We first heard from Bruce T Carroll last year upon the release of his single and video “Lift Your Head Up.” That track introduced us to a socially conscious singer/songwriter with a quick wit and an Americana sound that lands somewhere between John Prine and latter-day Bruce Springsteen. Carroll made his debut in 2016 with the critically acclaimed album “Ruckus and Romance.” Since then the talented singer/songwriter from upstate New York has performed solo and with his band all over the Northeast and beyond, sharing festival stages with legends and headlining high-profile club gigs.
The singer followed that debut with 2018’s “Finding You” and last year’s single release. On September 1, 2021 Bruce dropped his third full length album, “First Bird to Sing.” Recorded live in studio (The Building in Marlboro, NY), the 8 song collection mixes personal narratives with social observations delivered by a skilled wordsmith and band of Americana virtuosos.
A low tremolo guitar introduces “Nobody Knows,” a softly spoken testament to the silent internal struggles we all go through in life. From there we meet a rotating ensemble of keys, guitars, drums and strings. On “What’s the Rush,” Bruce drops a bit of ‘stop and smell the roses’ wisdom over a skiffle rhythm led by some nice Country fiddle. The roots rocking title track follows with horns and guitars. The song follows a theme that permeates the album, one of retrospection and contemplation on the impermanence of life. It’s a vibe that continues on melancholy ballads like “Til it’s Time To Go,” “Dragonfly In a Jar.” Bruce looks at life, how we live it and how we impact others.
“I Let Go” is a relationship post mortem set to a cool Johnny Cash style railroad shuffle featuring some really slick guitar. “Don’t Take Love Lightly” (MAGAGirl)” is a fun and clever tune that mixes politics and love as commentary on the fluid nature of ‘truth’ in our confused modern age. Here and throughout the album the band is just excellent, easily sliding between Country, Pop, Rock and Folk to create a smooth Americana vibe. The record ends on “Grandfather Walks” a heartfelt and touching memorial of a lost loved one and a final thought on how our finite lives fit into the infinity of existence.
Listen to the “First Bird to Sing” album below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the song “What’s the Rush” on the Deep Indie Songwriters playlist. Follow the links below to connect with the artist. Get on his profiles and get in the loop on all of the current and future projects from this distinctive Americana voice.
Connect with Bruce T Carroll
CREDITS
All songs written by Bruce T Carroll (BTCSongs/ASCAP)
Nobody Knows
Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocal: Bruce T Carroll
Drums/Perc/Vocals: Lee Falco
Bass/Vocals: Brandon Morrison
Piano/Organ/Glockenspiel/Vocals: Will Bryant
Electric Guitars: Connor Kennedy
Violin: Sara Milonovich
What’s The Rush
Acoustic Guitar/Lead & Bg Vocals: Bruce T Carroll
Drums/Percussion: Lee Falco
Bass: Brandon Morrison
Piano/Mandolin: Will Bryant
Electric Guitars: Connor Kennedy
Violin: Sara Milonovich
First Bird To Sing
Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocal: Bruce T Carroll
Tenor and Baritone Sax: Jay Collins
Trumpet: Chris Pasin
Drums/Percussion: Lee Falco
Bass: Brandon Morrison
BG Vocals: Carla Springer
Electric Guitars: Connor Kennedy
Horn Arrangement: Jay Collins
‘Til It’s Time to Go
Lead Vocal: Bruce T Carroll
Piano/Organ/Vocals: Will Bryant
Drums/Vocals: Lee Falco
Bass/Vocals: Brandon Morrison
Electric Guitar: Connor Kennedy
Dragonfly In A Jar
Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocals: Bruce T Carroll
Electric Guitar: Marc Shulman
Harmonica: Gary Schreiner
Drums/Percussion/Vocals: Lee Falco
Bass/Vocals: Brandon Morrison
Accordian/Organ/Vocals:Will Bryant
Violin: Sara Milonovich
I Let Go
Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocal: Bruce T Carroll
Drums/Percussion: Lee Falco
Guitar: Andy Stack
Lead Guitar: Connor Kennedy
Bass: Brandon Morrison
Organ: Tommy Mandel
Wurlitzer: Will Bryant
BG Vocals: Carla Springer
Don’t Take Love Lightly (MAGA Girl)
Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocals: Bruce T Carroll
Electric Guitars: Connor Kennedy
Bass/Vocals: Brandon Morrison
Drums/Percussion/Vocals: Lee Falco
Piano/Farfisa/Wurlitzer/Vocals: Will Bryant
Violin: Sara Milonovich
Grandfather Walks
Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocals: Bruce T Carroll
Bass/Vocals: Brandon Morrison
Drums/Percussion/Vocals: Lee Falco
Piano/Organ/Harmonium: Will Bryant
Accordian: Tommy Mandel
Violin: Sara Milonovich