CARM - CARM

Release Date: January 22, 2021
Genre: alternative/instrumental/trumpet

I gave this a listen because Sufjan Stevens was on here and based on the album cover, I just assumed that this was your typical singer/songwriter folksy album, but it's not quite. CJ Camerieri, aka CRAM, is a trumpet, french horn, and other instrumental player. It's interesting because this guy has been around and I've heard him play on some of my favorite albums (boxer, bon iver), but I never heard of him.

Review: So the opening track is great, it's a very Sufjan sounding song that can co-exist on a Sufjan album. The next two tracks caught me by surprise because I was expecting vocals, but the horns took its place. I really liked "Soft Night" because it's so light, fluffy. Then "Nowhere" has this 70s action vibe to it. A lot of empty space in the song, but it feels good when the melody kicks in. I felt the transition to "Already Gone" was good, but the vocals are whatever.

Since I do like playing video games while listening to music, "After Hours" felt like good menu music, or something in the background while you clear out enemies. "Invisible Walls" had that too where it sounds cool as background noise, but not so much as active listening. I felt "Slantwise" was more engaging, but followed the same vibe from the previous songs. No disrespect to the lady who sings on "Tapp" but I felt like it was a generic type of that song, you know?

I honestly don't know how I feel about "Scarcely Out" because it sounds like Jazz and I know it takes skill to do what they are doing, but I think it's too much, sorry. Lastly, Justin Vernon is featured on "Land" and you can hear the melody from the opening track come back here. Is it good? not really, but I thought it tied the album together, so that's cool.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Song of Trouble 9/10
2. Soft Night 8/10
3. Nowhere 8/10
4. Already Gone 7/10
5. After Hours 8/10
6. Invisible Walls 6/10
7. Tapp 5/10
8. Slantwise 6/10
9. Scarcely Out 5/10
10. Land 8/10

Summary: Alright, I know I'm bias when anyone is loosely connected to The National. in articles I read, I thought it was interesting that he wanted to use the trumpet in roles that are usually for the drums. So I felt like i enjoyed the more vocal less tracks more. Still, not really my thing, but that Sufjan track might stay with me till the end of the year.

Key Tracks: Song of Trouble, Nowhere, Land
Rating: 7/10