Trackimage | Playbut | Trackname | Playbut | Trackname |
---|---|---|---|---|
7498356 | Play | Listen to the Darkside | 00:00 Tools | |
7498354 | Play | How I Roll | 00:00 Tools | |
7498360 | Play | Gather The Horses | 00:00 Tools | |
7498355 | Play | I Do I Do | 00:00 Tools | |
50358247 | Play | The Money | 00:00 Tools | |
7498357 | Play | Let the Meter Run | 00:00 Tools | |
7498359 | Play | Nothing But the Rain | 00:00 Tools | |
7498365 | Play | Meet Me By The Backdoor | 00:00 Tools | |
7498369 | Play | When the Sun Goes Down | 00:00 Tools | |
7498368 | Play | Like A Bird, Like A Plane | 00:00 Tools | |
7498358 | Play | Blackberry Light | 00:00 Tools | |
7498371 | Play | No Place Like Home | 00:00 Tools | |
7498361 | Play | Sometimes the Sky | 00:00 Tools | |
7498364 | Play | Listen To The Dark Side | 00:00 Tools | |
7498373 | Play | Clocking Out | 00:00 Tools | |
7498372 | Play | Banging On Your Door | 00:00 Tools | |
7498376 | Play | The Only One | 00:00 Tools | |
7498363 | Play | Back of the Room | 00:00 Tools | |
7498362 | Play | Pacific Oceans | 00:00 Tools | |
7498375 | Play | Heart Of The Summertime | 00:00 Tools | |
7498366 | Play | Picture of An Island | 00:00 Tools | |
7498379 | Play | Tell Me Twice | 00:00 Tools | |
7498374 | Play | What Are You Looking For? | 00:00 Tools | |
7498378 | Play | Simple Things | 00:00 Tools | |
7498384 | Play | Try So Hard | 00:00 Tools | |
7498388 | Play | Silver Buttons | 00:00 Tools | |
7498387 | Play | Close to Home | 00:00 Tools | |
50358248 | Play | Cry Cry Cry | 00:00 Tools | |
7498383 | Play | Bay Springs Road | 00:00 Tools | |
7498367 | Play | Great Wall of China | 00:00 Tools | |
7498403 | Play | How I Roll (Prince Fox Remix) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498380 | Play | Oh Daddyo | 00:00 Tools | |
50358249 | Play | Hell Yeah | 00:00 Tools | |
7498392 | Play | White Out | 00:00 Tools | |
7498393 | Play | Nobody Cries | 00:00 Tools | |
7498396 | Play | One Horse Town | 00:00 Tools | |
7498394 | Play | How Could You | 00:00 Tools | |
7498395 | Play | Captain, Captain | 00:00 Tools | |
7498385 | Play | Back of the Room (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498397 | Play | To Love And Be Loved | 00:00 Tools | |
7498377 | Play | How I Roll (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358250 | Play | Close To Home (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
87089633 | Play | She Ain't Coming Back | 00:00 Tools | |
7498390 | Play | Picture of an Island (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498382 | Play | Blackberry Light (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498370 | Play | Let the Meter Run (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498399 | Play | Firing Line | 00:00 Tools | |
7498398 | Play | Life in the Stars | 00:00 Tools | |
50358254 | Play | Things You Don't Wanna Know | 00:00 Tools | |
50358251 | Play | Gather The Horses (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498381 | Play | Nothing but the Rain (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498405 | Play | Broken Arrow | 00:00 Tools | |
7498401 | Play | Listen to the Darkside (Live) - Courtesy KGSR | 00:00 Tools | |
50358252 | Play | Nobody Cries (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498404 | Play | Barfly | 00:00 Tools | |
50358253 | Play | Silver Buttons (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358258 | Play | Oh Girl | 00:00 Tools | |
7498389 | Play | I Do I Do (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498386 | Play | Pacific Oceans (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358255 | Play | Simple Things (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358261 | Play | Danger Danger | 00:00 Tools | |
50358256 | Play | Captain, Captain (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358257 | Play | One Horse Town (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498402 | Play | Coping | 00:00 Tools | |
7498391 | Play | Great Wall of China (Acoustic Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358266 | Play | Know My Name | 00:00 Tools | |
50358268 | Play | Rainfall | 00:00 Tools | |
50358267 | Play | Pride Before The Fall | 00:00 Tools | |
50358259 | Play | White Out (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358262 | Play | When The Sun Goes Down (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358269 | Play | My Friend Ray | 00:00 Tools | |
50358263 | Play | Captain Captain | 00:00 Tools | |
50358260 | Play | Try So Hard (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498409 | Play | Maybe His Name Was Jay | 00:00 Tools | |
50358264 | Play | Bay Springs Road (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358265 | Play | How Could You (Album Version) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498400 | Play | How I Roll (TYR Remix) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498445 | Play | Black Dress | 00:00 Tools | |
7498413 | Play | Work Things Out | 00:00 Tools | |
7498411 | Play | The Answer to Everything | 00:00 Tools | |
7498408 | Play | Headlight God | 00:00 Tools | |
7498419 | Play | 7494 | 00:00 Tools | |
7498415 | Play | Time Was | 00:00 Tools | |
7498430 | Play | Listen to the Darkside (Live) (Courtesy KGSR) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498452 | Play | Pieces | 00:00 Tools | |
7498412 | Play | I Do I Do (zaycev.net) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498455 | Play | Banding on Your Door | 00:00 Tools | |
7498444 | Play | Whiteout | 00:00 Tools | |
89152054 | Play | Things Your Don't Wanna Know | 00:00 Tools | |
87089638 | Play | Beach Town | 00:00 Tools | |
87089635 | Play | Where We Come From | 00:00 Tools | |
7498466 | Play | I'm No Angel | 00:00 Tools | |
7498407 | Play | Nothing But The Rain (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498417 | Play | How I Roll (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358270 | Play | Gone | 00:00 Tools | |
7498416 | Play | Blackberry Light (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498446 | Play | Listen to the Darkside (single) | 00:00 Tools | |
87089634 | Play | Mountain Girl | 00:00 Tools | |
7498414 | Play | I Do I Do (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
87089637 | Play | Dream Kitchen | 00:00 Tools | |
7498432 | Play | You Talk | 00:00 Tools | |
87089642 | Play | Benji Don't Wanna Stay | 00:00 Tools | |
7498418 | Play | Let the Meter Run (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498420 | Play | Picture of an Island (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
89152055 | Play | Only in a Country Song | 00:00 Tools | |
87089640 | Play | Island Time | 00:00 Tools | |
7498423 | Play | Great Wall of China (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498421 | Play | Pacific Oceans (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498424 | Play | Back Of The Room (Acoustic) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498463 | Play | Firing Lane | 00:00 Tools | |
87089639 | Play | You and Me | 00:00 Tools | |
7498425 | Play | How I Roll [Audio Only] | 00:00 Tools | |
87089641 | Play | Take a Chance on Me | 00:00 Tools | |
87089643 | Play | Lazy River | 00:00 Tools | |
50358276 | Play | Listen to the Darkside video, starring Mary Louise Parker | 00:00 Tools | |
50358271 | Play | Stick To Your Guns | 00:00 Tools | |
50358272 | Play | To Love and Be Loved (Bonus Track) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358273 | Play | Firing Line (Bonus Track) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358274 | Play | Life in the Stars (Bonus Track) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358275 | Play | Cather the Houses | 00:00 Tools | |
87089644 | Play | Bad Guy | 00:00 Tools | |
7498459 | Play | Sometimes | 00:00 Tools | |
7498422 | Play | I Do, I Do | 00:00 Tools | |
87089647 | Play | Lucky Boy | 00:00 Tools | |
87089645 | Play | After You | 00:00 Tools | |
87089646 | Play | Last Rodeo | 00:00 Tools | |
7498457 | Play | No Eyes Look Back | 00:00 Tools | |
50358283 | Play | Looking For A Heart | 00:00 Tools | |
50358277 | Play | Gather The Horses (Edit) | 00:00 Tools | |
87089648 | Play | I Can Feel It | 00:00 Tools | |
50358278 | Play | 40 Watts and Serenades | 00:00 Tools | |
50358281 | Play | Winter Heart | 00:00 Tools | |
7498447 | Play | Can You Hear Me Now? | 00:00 Tools | |
7498435 | Play | 01 Let The Meter Run | 00:00 Tools | |
50358279 | Play | North Star | 00:00 Tools | |
50358280 | Play | aWhite Out | 00:00 Tools | |
7498451 | Play | How I Roll Audio Only | 00:00 Tools | |
7498442 | Play | Filipino | 00:00 Tools | |
50358286 | Play | I Do I Do (OST How I Met Your Mother 8 season \ ОСТ Как Я Встретил Вашу Маму 8 сезон) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498460 | Play | Walking Years Away | 00:00 Tools | |
50358282 | Play | Sunday Best | 00:00 Tools | |
87089650 | Play | Casino Town | 00:00 Tools | |
50358285 | Play | Bay Spring Road | 00:00 Tools | |
50358284 | Play | aBay Springs Road | 00:00 Tools | |
7498428 | Play | Listen to the Darkside (live) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498449 | Play | Cather the Ho.. | 00:00 Tools | |
7498431 | Play | Back of the Room (Somewhere in Mississippi) | 00:00 Tools | |
87089649 | Play | I do I do (with lyrics) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358288 | Play | I Do I Do ( ost himym s8e3 ) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358287 | Play | The Money (Radio Mix) | 00:00 Tools | |
7498426 | Play | How I Roll OST Weeds (s8e3) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358289 | Play | Tell Me Twice (Demo) | 00:00 Tools | |
50358290 | Play | Bangin' On Your Door | 00:00 Tools | |
50358291 | Play | Clockin Out | 00:00 Tools |
"I know people think, 'Oh great, another guy with an acoustic guitar,'" says Charlie Mars. "What I really want is to say to them, 'Not so quick. Just one minute. That's not what this is.'" Charlie Mars has been a journeyman artist with all the ups and downs that entails, from major label releases and high profile gigs opening for the likes of REM, KT Tunstall, Citizen Cope, Steve Earle, among others, from uncertainty to redemption. Now, with the extraordinary new Blackberry Light, the Mississippi-based troubadour builds upon the distinctive musical approach first mined on his 2009 breakthrough Like A Bird, Like A Plane, employing supple grooves and ambient Daniel Lanois-inspired production to enhance the elemental force of his classic songwriting influenced by the likes of Bob Marley, Bill Withers and Dire Straits. From the dreamlike, "Nothing But The Rain," to the shimmering "Picture of an Island," the album sees Mars delving deep within to offer insight and a path to self awareness and ultimately transcendence via a gracefully beatific distillation of folk, rock, and smooth acoustic soul. "This music takes my mind to a place that allows me to see more clearly where I'm falling short," Mars says. "It takes my mind to a reflective place. It makes me sentimental about my past, my present, my future. It has a way of humanizing me and helping me shed some of the things that get in my way." Currently residing in Oxford, Mississippi, Mars was at a professional standstill before Like A Bird, Like A Plane. With "no manager, no agent, no band and no money," he doggedly developed a sonic style uniquely his own, a sound informed less by traditional rock than by sinewy and soulful rhythms that seemed to bubble up from within his soul. "We stumbled upon this percussive, atmospheric tone that, as far as I'm concerned, was different from anything else out there," Mars says. "I thought, 'This is my sound. This is what separates me from the things that I'm hearing elsewhere and I want to explore that further.'" Mars kickstarted his second act by spending much of the next two years on the road; growing an increasingly fervent following while slowly compiling a sheaf of new songs. Recording officially got underway in August 2011 at Austin's Texas Treefort Studios, with Mars once again accompanied by many of his cohorts, including producer Billy Harvey (Bob Schneider), keyboardist John Ginty (Santana, Citizen Cope), bassists George Reiff (Ian Moore, Steve Poltz) and Dave Monzie (Fiona Apple), and drummers J.J. Johnson (John Mayer, Tedeschi Trucks Band) and Dony Wynn (Robert Plant, Robert Palmer). That stripped down framework comprises a stark and cinematic sound inspired in part by producer Daniel Lanois' famed collaborations with Bob Dylan, Ron Sexsmith, and Emmylou Harris. With its sparse instrumentation and focus on transcendent grooves and ambient space, the minimalist approach serves to add maximum intensity to Mars' already powerful songwriting. "It's not just less is more," Mars says. "Less can be massive. When you find that special place of less, everything just opens up. Sometimes I'll think we're doing so little, we should do more, but then it's like, let's do less and see what happens." Mars took a similarly modest tack towards the overall recording, looking to capture those perfect uncalculated moments where everything just clicks. "Back of the Room" written initially as part of an Esquire feature asking five songwriters to compose a tune incorporating the words "Somewhere in Mississippi" was literally cut live as the band unwound from a long day's work, while the rollicking, funk-fueled "How I Roll" was truly born of spontaneous energy, its unabashedly wicked opening lines put down by Mars while Johnson was out on a brief appointment. Upon his return to the studio two hours later, the band jammed the track and recorded it straightaway. "That was it," Mars says. "We never did it again." Penned as a "counterbalance to some of the slower, more moodier songs" on the album, "How I Roll" sees Mars acknowledging his myriad demons, even celebrating their essential place in his complete being. "Part of what I've gone through is acknowledging that I have a darker self," he says, "and I have to work diligently to try and improve myself so that I can stay out of that. At some point, I came to the realization that that darker self is going to win sometimes and I'm a little tired of apologizing for it. It's part of the whole, I don't have to carve that part of myself out and deny it." Like any songwriter worth his salt, Mars employs his art as a channel towards personal discovery, candidly exploring all the human limitations from pride and fear to cynicism self-doubt that stand in the way of his attaining true happiness. "The desire for connection and my terror in the face of it," he says. "That's what the album is about." To get there, songs like "Great Wall of China" or the title track take lyrical cues from such literary heroes as Haruki Murakami, Cormac McCarthy, Walker Percy, and Denis Johnson, relying on spare language and abstract imagery to create vivid-to the bone revelations about universal life experience. Upon the sessions' conclusion, Mars began aggressively pursuing one of his dream collaborators, legendary producer/engineer/mixer Tchad Blake. The Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive work with such artists as Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, and Sheryl Crow ultimately agreed and helped give Blackberry Light much of its uniquely spacious warmth. "If there is a leap from the last record to this one, Tchad played a huge part in it, Mars says. He's an artist. He takes something and infuses it with his artistry and it becomes something else. He's the real deal." The same can be said of Charlie Mars. Imbued with jazzy warmth, simmering dynamics, and uncommon use of space and intensity, Blackberry Light presents a gifted writer and musician at his confident and creative peak, a milestone work in what has proven to be a most extraordinary artistic evolution. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.