Daniel Carr - The Streets are on fire

Daniel Carr 

The Streets Are On Fire
self-released; 2013

3.6 out of 5 

By Eva Cantillo

Daniel Carr calls this album his first solo project and he has written and recorded the entire collection of songs without any assistance. The Streets are on Fire can be classified as acoustic folk rock and the album emits a sound that is completely genuine and showcases the musician’s passion for personifying the character of a musician.

The second track on the album “Draggin’ Me Down Blues” begins with a compelling super gung-ho slide guitar riff and then the lyrics “I’m so far above you, you’re dragging me down, you think you know me but you're never around,” begin to tell the story of how someone is trying to damper his spirits, but through obvious observation of the demeanor of the song, he ain’t having it. The song is a clear outlet to the trials and tribulations within the relationship and almost a triumph to not only overcoming it but also having the courage to state it and admit it in the first place. This track is certifiably blues, but has a funky upbeat edge to it.

One track I find appealing is “In My Town,” as it reminds me of styles from bands like Grizzly Bear, King Krule and Real Estate. The guitar has a pleasing twang to it as it is mellow yet has a strength and depth to it that keeps the listener grounded and anchored. The vocals also float nicely over the guitars and percussions, “My town is so far down it could fade away.”

There exists a modest quality on this album; some may say it’s scruffy and rough. Carr recorded the entire album in his basement and this can be attributed to the disorganization of sound, yet simultaneously the sound mimics that of a live concert hall where the sound kind of bounces all around you and envelops you in the experience. Besides recording, song writing is a success on this album as each song has a different story to tell and a new experience to divulge. The Streets are on Fire is a great solo project that really foreshadows the future of Daniel Carr. 

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