By Mark Bennett
TERRE HAUTE — If Tim Carroll chose differently, years ago, the title of his new album, “All Kinds of Pain,” might be all too real.
He worked on Wall Street. He dug that job, for the first five years, but spent the last three he was there wondering, “How do I get out of here?”
Music was his true passion. Carroll played guitar in rock bands while growing up in western Vigo County, and continued during his college days at Indiana University. With a degree in hand, he and his band, The Gizmos, moved to New York from Bloomington to play in the thriving Big Apple club circuit, where they even shared a bill with The Ramones. That is, until the group broke up.
“I thought I had to grow up and get a real job,” Carroll recalled last week.
He left the clubs for the financial district. Eventually, music tugged at his suit. He found a new band, the Blue Chieftans, and they developed a cult following. One of their songs, written by Carroll, got recorded by folk legend John Prine. Carroll faced a decision — pursue writing and performing in Music City, USA, or stick with Wall Street.
Carroll chose Nashville.
Sixteen years and eight albums later, he’s at peace with that, especially after last year’s implosion on Wall Street.
“I was glad I wasn’t working down there last fall,” Carroll said by phone from his East Nashville home. “I’m glad I’m not working there, period. It was OK for a while, but it starts to be just like pushing paper. At least making music is therapeutic for some people.”
His sound has that capability. It’s telling that the infinitely clever Prine covered Carroll’s “If I Could (I Would).” Carroll writes witty lyrics with catchy melodies, plays tasteful but wicked lead guitar, and sings his message convincingly. Two of his self-penned recordings earned a spot on major motion pictures — “Find a Way to Win” in the film “Election” with Reese Witherspoon, and “A Girl That’s Hip” for “Drop Dead Gorgeous” starring Kirsten Dunst.
Carroll’s in fine form on his latest CD “All Kinds of Pain” for Gulcher Records. It’s the same label used by his old band, The Gizmos, and it still features lots of “really noisy young bands.” Now 49, Carroll joked, “I feel like I’m a little square compared to some of those bands, but I’ll take it. It’s a cool association.”
Carroll’s voice and guitar chops don’t sound a day over 21 on the new compilation. In fact, he’s got enough spunk to handle all the instruments on the album’s 12 tracks — guitars, bass, keyboards and harmonica — aside from buddy Marco Giovino’s deft drum work. But the insight in his lyrics reveal a wisdom seen beyond Generations X and Y. On the raucous song “Can’t Stay Young,” Carroll offers advice on staying hip as years go by: “You can’t stay young, but you can stay cool; treat every day as a precious jewel.”
His funky, acoustic title track reveals a perceptiveness honed by living a while: “You can break a bone, or be left alone; you can cut your skin, or be forced to begin; there’s all kinds of pain, some is just not quite as plain.”
Don’t get the idea that Carroll’s album sulks in middle-aged desperation. All his messages, the witty and the serious, hit your speakers with a fun, quirky, dance-able burst of sound. No matter the topic, Carroll and his guitar stay cool. The opening track “Soybeans, Cotton and Corn” crackles with Carroll’s spacious lead guitar and sly James Gang-style vocal, urging listeners to “read between the lines.”
His knack for originality and virtuosity is best known inside Nashville music circles. Peter Cooper of The Tennessean, Nashville’s well-regarded newspaper, called Carroll “a fiery stage presence, a tremendous Chuck Berry-loving guitar player and a songwriter who blends intelligence, humor and aggression into something wholly idiosyncratic and tremendously entertaining.” Carroll’s most high-profile gigs often come as the Stratocaster-wielding sideman to his wife, Elizabeth Cook, a popular country soprano whose own 2007 album “Balls” earned national praise and exposure. They’ve appeared on CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” National Public Radio, the Grand Ole Opry stage (hundreds of times) and eight foreign countries. Elizabeth also hosts a music and talk show “Apron Strings” on Sirius Radio every Thursday and Friday morning.
Her rendition of his wistful, gentle ballad “Always Tomorrow” ends her “Balls” album on a high note.
Having Elizabeth cover his songs inspires Carroll. “She does such a different take on a song, and that’s great as a songwriter — to wonder, ‘Where are they going to go with that one?’” he said.
The mystery of music first lured Carroll as a youngster, growing up near Terre Haute. He was riding horseback through the rural countryside and heard the sound of a hippie garage band, and went to investigate. Feeling the fever, Carroll wound up leading his own garage bands and his path was set.
For Hauteans who haven’t heard Carroll since those days when he played sock hops and mixers at Concannon Junior High and West Vigo High School (he was a 1977 grad), he has a plea for them. “I hope those people give me another chance,” Carroll quipped. “I’ve improved a lot — I promise.”
It’s true. He’s aging well, but staying cool.
Mark Bennett can be reached at (812) 231-4377 or mark.bennett@tribstar.com.
