Zachary Carroll
Sonoma, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2016 | SELF
Music
Press
With the lo-fi bounce of a Parker Longbough type act, Evening Glass, led by Zachary Carroll, have the sort of dynamism that unexpectedly buries itself deep within the coolest recesses of the ear-worm territories of your mind. - Jangle Pop Hub
Medicine Mouth is a collection of six songs that flow seamlessly from first note to last. Zachary's vocals are sometimes low in the mix, however the lyrics seemed mostly positive and life affirming (a later check of Bandcamp confirmed this). Here's a verse from the closing piece "Postcard":
I'm dropping a postcard
from the edge of the earth
I'm writing to tell you,
"I'm still fond of the world"
Zachary weaves acoustic melodies with electric leads, along with mellow percussion in a DIY sensibility that adds up to a glorious yet brief EP. Minimalists decree that less is more, and with Medicine Mouth six exceptional songs leaves one savoring what we've been given. Essential summer listening. - One Minute Cassette Reviews
Why is it that everyone who loves Jimmy Buffet can only name one song by him? Isn't it weird to anyone else that there is this entire fandom based around one song? Sometimes I like to imagine what his other songs might be like to gain such followers and in a perfect world, one where music makes sense, Zachary Carroll could have a Jimmy Buffet sound. I only say that because these songs (especially "Life Is Good") have that feel where you'd want to sit on the beach with your feet in the sand while listening to them. I'm still not sure what Jimmy Buffet sounds like but if it was something along these lines I'd be into it.
Granted, there are elements of Jack Johnson in here as well. It's acoustic rock n roll, melodies, sometimes dreamy and yet the first song cranks out this killer electric guitar solo as well, so not entirely acoustic either. "Lifelong Dream" can be placed somewhere between Ed Schrader's Music Beat and My Pleasure, though "Stumblin' Stoned" has this distorted vibe to it with a harmonica which reminds me of Lou Reed. "Natural Light" recalls the Beach Boys and overall I would say you could describe Zachary Carroll as being somewhere between Daniel Johnston and Neil Young.
The final song, "Postcard", makes me wonder why people don't send postcards anymore. At one point, I remember Hal McGee having a postcard club, but does anyone else out there participate in such things? I think someone needs to organize a much larger scale postcard club, one which could see people around the world sending various postcards to other people. Back in the 1990's I used to get postcards in the mail to promote new albums or even tours. Isn't it wild now some kids don't even know what a postcard is?
"Medicine Mouth" is a tricky collection of songs. When you first listen to it, the overall sense you get will be one that is acoustic. It's that lighter feel. But every song seems to have an electric guitar part as well. The more you listen to it- both by how far you get into the songs and how many times you listen to it- the more you will begin to hear how complicated this music is. On the surface it might seem simple, but I like to think of it as being like the clouds. Clouds seem so simple, they're all mostly just white, but when you consider how they form, what they're made up of exactly, then you just see them in a different light. - Raised by Gypsies
'solofi' is the new live EP from california singer/songwriter zachary carroll. it does have a very lofi sound, but beneath the haze are revealed four solid songs in a folk/rock singer/songwriter style.
on the final jam, 'postcard', zachary employs a loop pedal to keep the rhythm going for a psychedelic, emotionally expressive guitar solo. - The Modern Folk Music of America
Discography
Zachary Carroll - Balloonist (mixtape)
July 19, 2024 by Crazy Ha! Records
Zachary Carroll - Crow Noise
June 30, 2020 by Crazy Ha! Records
Zachary Carroll - Medicine Mouth (EP)
August 3, 2018 by Crazy Ha! Records
Zachary Carroll - solofi (live)
May 1, 2017 by Crazy Ha! Records
Zachary Carroll - Scratch Titles (mixtape)
May 12, 2016 by Crazy Ha! Records
Photos
Bio
Zachary Carroll is a singer-songwriter from Sonoma, California
Zack's latest release Balloonist is a mixtape of acoustic songs, electrified instrumentals, and alternate solo versions of songs from his band Evening Glass. The collection is sprawling in the tradition of Sebadoh III, The Reverend & The Beagle, and Sometimes Chimes.
One Minute Cassette Reviews described Zack’s 2018 solo EP by saying, “Medicine Mouth is a collection of six songs that flow seamlessly from first note to last.” “Zachary weaves acoustic melodies with electric leads, along with mellow percussion in a DIY sensibility that adds up to a glorious yet brief EP. Minimalists decree that less is more, and with Medicine Mouth six exceptional songs leaves one savoring what we’ve been given. Essential summer listening.”
Zack’s live EP "solofi" was recorded at the HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol, California in 2017, while he was opening for acid-folk artist Lee Harvey Osmond. The Modern Folk Music of America featured the live version of Zack’s song Postcard and highlighted it’s, “psychedelic, emotionally expressive guitar solo”.
Zack and longtime collaborator Kenneth Martin’s 2004 album “Psychedelic Tour De Force” was named as one of the top 10 Lo-Fi Albums of the year by the zine Heraclitus Sayz!. Other records on the list were by such critically acclaimed artists as Sufjan Stevens and Iron & Wine.
Band Members
Links