Photo by Daniel Yates
Take a breath, slow down, and let the weight of the week lift from your weary aura and float away on the ethereal sonic waves of Caroline Says. But don’t let the open-air aesthetic fool you—everything Caroline Sallee writes and brings to life is leaden with substance. Making a departure from the surf-rock vibes of their debut album, the group’s follow-up turns the dial back a little without sacrificing momentum or interesting arrangements. Inspired by a trip to her small Alabama hometown where the juxtaposition of the constant whirl of the Austin cyclone and the apathetically accepted static state of Huntsville left her feeling unsettled and introspective, Austin-transplant-by-way-of Alabama Sallee fleshed out and recorded an entire album within months of 2017’s 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong. The setting for recording the album—her dreary, cave-like basement apartment— highlights the album’s darker mood, and the wealth of inspiration is evident in her songwriting.
“I Tried” is a shining synecdoche of the album’s darker tone. The energy is soft, each layer has room to air out and dissipate gracefully, and Sallee’s aerial vocals float on top of it all…with a hint of bossa nova to keep the momentum strong and your shoulders bouncing.
“I Tried” appears on No Fool Like An Old Fool, out March 16th via Western Vinyl. Catch Caroline Says recorded live in Studio 1A on KUTX next Thursday, March 8th at 9 PM.
Upcoming Caroline Says Shows (note: some may be SXSW official showcases)
Sunday, Mar 4th || Barracuda
Saturday, Mar 10th || Hotel Vegas
Sunday, Mar 11th || Hotel Vegas
Tuesday, Mar 13th || The Volstead
Friday, Mar 16th || Buffalo Billiards
Friday, Mar 16th || Scholz Garden
-Taylor Wallace// Host, Thursdays 8p-11p & Saturdays 2p-6p; Producer, Eklektikos with John Aielli
