Brand New Tunes
By: Jessica Adams
Issue date: 9/16/08 Section: Features
I'm going to be completely honest. I might be a little bit partial to Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps because I'm close friends with her extended family. Her three male cousins shamelessly push her CD into my hands every chance they get. But I'm glad that they're so stubborn. Smith has released a remarkable collection of sweet and soulful melodies in between semesters working toward an English major at the University of Minnesota.
Smith grew up in a musically adept family in northern Minnesota, where she learned to play a Dylan song as soon as her hands were big enough to wrap around a guitar. She continued playing feverishly and released her first album at the age of 16. During that time, she even opened for B.B. King - a fact of which she is incredibly proud, to this day.
After playing a round of successful shows throughout Minnesota, Smith began to form a band out of peers and fans, later titled The Good Night Sleeps. The musicians include Arlen Peiffer on drums; Alex Ramsey on keyboard, harmonica, et al.; and Jesse Schuster on guitar. Together, the four of them have been eagerly promoting Backyard Tent Set, Smith's newest release, throughout the country.
Smith said the album was produced with the help of a lot of cigarettes, a lot of coffee, a lot of Mesa Pizza and plenty of creaky chairs. The album employs the use of vintage equipment and group recordings, which is reminiscent of the low-key folk mentality of the 1960s. Smith herself seems to have stepped out of a Beat-era Robert Frank photograph; her wavy hair and mini dresses perfectly complement her warm and laid-back sound.
Smith's voice has a unique trill to it that stands apart from most folk artists. Her sound is an exquisite mix of Regina Spektor, Feist, Cat Power and even Bob Dylan. Her songs are composed of heart-wrenching mini-novellas pierced by soulful 'bah bah bahs' and 'la la las' that tell of youth, lust, alcohol and the people who surround her. They depict perfectly the romantic life of a burgeoning college student: avoiding the sunlight on an early morning, planting kisses on boys' cheeks and proclaiming love on every street corner.
Perhaps because of Smith's voice, or because of the aged instruments used, or a combination of both, the album feels incredibly warm, like an old blanket or a cup of coffee on a rainy day. The songs are both consoling and inspiring; they speak volumes about the quality of life, the importance of love and the value of friendship. Smith is an enigmatic character who is both youthful and mature - a new face in music and an old soul.
Like my good friends before me, I implore you to listen to this CD. It is now available on iTunes for a mere $9.90. Think of this as gaining a new, inspiring friend who will dish out valuable information through a beautiful voice and a ripe guitar. That's something every college student could use.
-features@thedepauw.com
Smith grew up in a musically adept family in northern Minnesota, where she learned to play a Dylan song as soon as her hands were big enough to wrap around a guitar. She continued playing feverishly and released her first album at the age of 16. During that time, she even opened for B.B. King - a fact of which she is incredibly proud, to this day.
After playing a round of successful shows throughout Minnesota, Smith began to form a band out of peers and fans, later titled The Good Night Sleeps. The musicians include Arlen Peiffer on drums; Alex Ramsey on keyboard, harmonica, et al.; and Jesse Schuster on guitar. Together, the four of them have been eagerly promoting Backyard Tent Set, Smith's newest release, throughout the country.
Smith said the album was produced with the help of a lot of cigarettes, a lot of coffee, a lot of Mesa Pizza and plenty of creaky chairs. The album employs the use of vintage equipment and group recordings, which is reminiscent of the low-key folk mentality of the 1960s. Smith herself seems to have stepped out of a Beat-era Robert Frank photograph; her wavy hair and mini dresses perfectly complement her warm and laid-back sound.
Smith's voice has a unique trill to it that stands apart from most folk artists. Her sound is an exquisite mix of Regina Spektor, Feist, Cat Power and even Bob Dylan. Her songs are composed of heart-wrenching mini-novellas pierced by soulful 'bah bah bahs' and 'la la las' that tell of youth, lust, alcohol and the people who surround her. They depict perfectly the romantic life of a burgeoning college student: avoiding the sunlight on an early morning, planting kisses on boys' cheeks and proclaiming love on every street corner.
Perhaps because of Smith's voice, or because of the aged instruments used, or a combination of both, the album feels incredibly warm, like an old blanket or a cup of coffee on a rainy day. The songs are both consoling and inspiring; they speak volumes about the quality of life, the importance of love and the value of friendship. Smith is an enigmatic character who is both youthful and mature - a new face in music and an old soul.
Like my good friends before me, I implore you to listen to this CD. It is now available on iTunes for a mere $9.90. Think of this as gaining a new, inspiring friend who will dish out valuable information through a beautiful voice and a ripe guitar. That's something every college student could use.
-features@thedepauw.com
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