It was only a short time ago that Todd Carey was stage leader and front-man of west coast jam rockers, Telepathy. Recently, a music transposition occurred for this Chicago native allowing him to mature as the sensitive singer-songwriter type. His debut album Revolving World is molded upon his strongest elements of showmanship, production and songwriting, while bridging the cap between singer/songwriter and rocker.
Carey keeps admirable company on this coming out party, working with producer/engineer Paul Du Gre (Mike Gordon/Leo Kottke, Tracy Chapman, Los Lobos) and writer/producer Jim Tulio (Los Lonely Boys, Mavis Staples, The Band). Together, they help to create a spectrum of rich effects to accompany his ambitious musical textures.
With confessional anthems laid amongst pop sensibilities, Revolving World surely revolves gracefully. From the reggae flavored folk of “Honest,” with its Jack Johnson kick back vibe, to the more extravagant rocker “Everytime,” it’s evident Carey is covering all his influences. “Simple” moves over a funky acoustic shuffle, while tickling a G Love hip hop blues flavor. And just when Carey’s vocals hit a crooning clang in the drippy ballad “Photograph,” guest vocalist Elyse Branch makes you forget any miss-steps with her soulful flourish on “You Won’t See Me Down.” Sure, Carey's overly emotional vocals can be a bit much to take, but you can’t nudge his guitar playing, that stretches from bleeding leads to sharp scratch riffing melodies.
With his foundation solidified in Telepathy, and with the help of some keen production work, Revolving World is a catchy debut. Although he'll likely be compared to radio-friendly male songwriters like Gavin DeGraw, Howie Day and Jason Mraz, Carey appears ready to make his name stand out on its own.
For more information on Todd Carey, please visit www.toddcareymusic.com
