CARTER BRADY’S NEW LP ‘SHOPPING CART’ IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO REAL ROCK N’ ROLL
Singer-songwriter Carter Brady has married rock n’ roll nostalgia with vintage thrift store indie. His latest full-length LP, ‘Shopping Cart,’ covers a wide range of sonically and lyrically themes. Brady’s crooner vocal stylings add voluminous layers of texture and depth to each mix. Thanks to its expert arrangement, this perfectly balanced LP feels much shorter than its 48-minute duration. Each song is precisely where it should be, guiding the album’s storyline effortlessly. ‘Shopping Cart’ is fresh, like a batch of groceries that are just ripe enough for your liking. Many are hopping on nostalgia, but Brady has cultivated something of his own. He will always fall under the “singer-songwriter” category, but in a subcategory that is uniquely his own because he innovated it.
“We’re Talking” is a strong start; roaring guitars are a key feature of Brady’s sonic world, so putting them at the forefront helps establish a familiar soundscape. Sometimes, his sound skews more toward Van Halen, but other times, it leans very much toward post-boyband Niall Horan. The introductory track for the album leans closer to the Van Halen side, though real One Direction fans know the band had some true rock hits in their discography. Brady’s whimsical, charming, and flowing stylistic choices are an asset. Plenty of optimistic dreamers are in the singer-songwriter space, but plugging his guitar into an amp was the right choice for this record instead of bringing out the ole’ dreadnought acoustic.
Follow-up tracks “Instead” and “Grocery Store” indicate Brady’s indie chops. Not only does “Grocery Store” follow the album’s theme, but it also sounds Strokes-y. The drumming and guitars could have been picked straight out of ‘Is This It,’ a record that pioneered an entire genre with its charm. Brady offers Julian Casablancas charm that will help him greatly as he navigates the indie space with his name at the forefront of each marquee. He would do well studying the crooners of today and yesterday, though he’s quite the natural, with tongue-in-cheek lyricism helping his case.
Slower tracks like “Late Night Temptations” showcase Brady’s range. He immediately shows audiences he’s excellent at high-energy, fun rock hits, but subtleties within the slower tracks let him shine. These moments introduce audiences to his vast vocal range, stacked perfectly together to create a full lead vocal. Again, his songwriting abilities are most noticeable. He can transform smaller moments in his life into something bigger. Everyone has their “late-night temptation,” which can culminate into broader feelings, expressed perfectly in Brady’s song.
The middle of the record offers a solid mix of songs at a relatively even pace. “Lost In This World” is exceptionally stunning, with palm-muted guitars leading. This song taps into The 1975’s subgenre of indie, which can be complicated to pull off, but Brady figured out all of Matty Healy’s tricks. He learned that his charm lies within his vulnerability; Healy can be rough around the edges, but the sensitivities in his lyrics make him desirable to audiences. Brady is not so rough around the edges, but he could undoubtedly melt hearts if he continues down the “Lost In This World” path. “Lost In This World” and “So Late” are my favorite songs on the record.
The latter half of the 48-minute LP has some deliciously smooth songwriting. “The Record’s Right,” “Suppressed,” and “See You In My Free Head” are incredibly composed, offering expertise to listening ears. There are so many significant, apparent reasons why Brady is an impressive musician. However, these album tracks position him as an expert. He may not have done all the post-production work, but he certainly has the final say once he receives his masters from his album co-producer and live band drummer Sammy Wags. The way the album is put together is the work of a true craftsman and a testament to album tracks. Many suggest that LPs are a thing of the past, and people no longer have the attention span to listen to a record. I disagree; we need solid records like ‘Shopping Cart’ now more than ever, with these album tracks hosting a plethora of potential. One-hit wonders are avoided by consistently working on carefully curated bodies of work.
Overall, ‘Shopping Cart’ has a lot of nice theming. This is true both in the callbacks to the title and within each verse’s lyrics. Brady’s experiences are relatable, but they’re also uniquely his. This balance will position him at the forefront of any scene he resides in. Real fans will flock to incredible artists who care about what they’re making, and Brady fits in that category. His efforts in ‘Shopping Cart’ should be rewarded tenfold, as this full-length LP results from undeniably hard work.