Give the Bone a Dog
- Rock/Pop
- 2008
- Buy the CD
Reviewed by Lee Zimmerman
Happily, the lack of a larger following hasn’t discouraged Carpenter from pursuing his muse, and in prepping his new disc, he and his band – which he’s coyly dubbed the Cuban Heels – are taking a meticulous approach that finds them auditioning new material via a series of limited-edition EPs. The latest of the two so far, Give the Bone a Dog, follows on the heels of New Dog-Old Tricks, which was released last summer. Like that earlier effort, it boasts seven tracks and a casual, unassuming attitude seemingly unfettered by pressing deadlines or commercial concerns. The sound is that of a bunch of pals getting together for a good-natured jam and some self-effacing bantering in between their outlays. ("If it’s true that song was four minutes long, three were great," Carpenter slyly comments after the wryly titled "Bad Poetry" reaches its conclusion.)
Happily, Carpenter and crew show no cause for undue modesty. They may not be pushing any parameters, but this mix of originals and obscure covers boasts a cool competency that oftentimes suggests Keef at the helm of the Stones. Certainly, "Heaven Knows" and "I Love You Period" wouldn’t feel out of sync in a collection of Exile on Main Street outtakes. Likewise, "Different with You" and "Bleeding Money" keep the tempo taut and the giddy vibes intact. However, the real treat arrives with reverence – specifically, Carpenter’s take on the otherwise arcane Mike Nesmith song, "Joanne," a minor hit for the former Monkee that demands both a high-pitched croon and an archivist’s ability to source out the ‘70s.
Ultimately, Carpenter’s going to have some tough choices to make when the time comes to narrow down the track list for that upcoming LP. But based on what’s been previewed on these two demo discs so far, his cred can be counted on to remain intact.
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