RootsTime review of Put Yourself In My Place, RootsTime CD of the Month

~~~~ note: this is (loosely) translated from Dutch.
From Broomfield, Colorado, reached us a new CD of singersongwriter Pat Carr. An extraordinary interesting character who over a number years has written very memorable songs. Some bitter and critical of the social structure, some extraordinarily funny and cynical. With regard to style, Carr reminds much of spirit relatives such as Clapton and Knopfler.
Already at the first listen we were seized by the powerful and sincere lyrics of this jewel. Pat grew up in Louisiana, where he started his career as French Quarter street zanger. As a young knaap he listened mainly to Southern soul and R&B, to artists such as Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Slim Harpo, Rufus Thomas, Clarence Frogman Henry and Aaron Neville. Later he played guitar, bass and mandolin in many bands in New Orleans and in the buurt of Denver. Afterwards it was just as quiet around this man. Obviously is he simply not just a fast writer, or possibly you must consider this man more as a good wine, which must finally also quietly mature before he richly becomes full and of taste. "Put Yourself in My Place" is a good example of this, it is a CD which is intense and character-full with a firm aftertaste, which makes you want to taste more.
Without already too much dedicating concerning the contents of the songs, we can say that Pat is a man that really has something to say. Pat Carr, besides being a madman guitarist, has been blessed with a splendidly multi-purpose voice sound with which he can sing, besides low, also considerably high and alternately very beautifully subtle, but also raw can sound. Also by the arrangements and instrumentation, Pat's music is inspired by everything from the gospel blues of Blind Willie Johnson to New Orleans soul, by delta blues and hard Texas blues to bluegrass and country.
"Put Yourself in My Place" is Pat's first album. This album, a splendid varied album with melodious fine songs, has been mostly inspired by experiences in the relational area. Using timeless instruments such as acoustic and electric guitars, drums, keyboards (and a beautiful sax solo by Billy Warren in the bluesy "Evil Evil") all numbers on this CD one after the other are splendid tales in themselves. From the acoustic gospel blues in the opening titeltrack to the last gem, the instrumental "Soul Mate", we are treated to an hour or more of quiet soul/blues in "I'm Jealous" and "Setting Yourself Up To Be Lonely", the rockende "I Can't Go On" and beside still some other instrumentals are our favorites - the blues songs: "Mean Streak", "Carolee", "Bad Habit" and already named "Evil Evil".
Listening even over and over to this disc, it is extraordinarily worth it. For this reason this relative unknown Pat Carr the designated CD of the month has deserved very well.
--Freddy Celis, RootsTime.be, Jan., 2007