Justin Carter – Painting Pictures (Medici Studios)
Appearing over the waves, guitar under one arm and harmonica under the other, Justin Carter is here to continue the surf-roots safari. Young, talented and driven, his second album Painting Pictures follows picks up where his 2007 debut Whatever Happened to Real Music left off. Music for dancing, for road tripping, and for late summer nights accompanied by a cool breeze, it's not difficult to come away from this record feeling content.
Hailing from Victoria's southwest via the Surf Coast, Carter wears his influences on his sleeve, melting 1970s Americana with a definite Australian coastal vibe. Comparisons with the Black Keys abound, although there's a laidback attitude present that brings Messrs Butler, Rudd & Grunwald to mind, especially on tracks like Sailing and Devil. While simple and lacklustre lyrics subtract from a couple of the tunes at times (“If I'm feeling down/You pick my off of the ground” - Smile), it is Carter's mastering of his various instruments that set him apart from his peers. Sucking on his harp with blistering violence at times, and showing a real appreciation of the sound his guitar makes, Carter and producer David Nicholas (the Whitlams, George, Diesel) have given each element of the recording the room & respect they deserve, with drummer Johnny Rollins keeping his end up and letting Carter shine.
Painting Pictures isn't going to make any best-sellers list for 2009, and Carter isn't about to become the king of Australian music with it. But as a taster for what this talented musician is capable of, look no further. If Whatever Happened to Real Music didn't announce his arrival, Painting Pictures does. And if you walk away from your stereo after closer Angels with anything less than a newfound respect for the world and your loved ones, then good luck to you.
- Dylan Stewart
