Marc Broussard - Carencro

I admit it. I don’t pick up a Playboy for the articles. I look at the women. I admit it. If I’m channel surfing, and I see the Howard Stern show on, I’ll watch. What’s he getting at, you may be asking? Well, many times Howard Stern invites Playboy centerfolds into his studio. Because these models are not permanently airbrushed, viewers get to see the natural product. And most of the time, the ladies look better with what God gave them. Again, you may be asking what’s he getting at? Well, Carencro is a very polished album. Airbrushed, if you will. I’ve never seen Marc Broussard live, and I wonder if the natural product is any better? Besides, being polished, Carencro is also perplexing. The first track, “Home,” is the best track and the only track that sounds like someone else is handling lead vocals. I’m still not sure Marc Broussard is the vocalist, and I’ve dissected the song credits a dozen times. “Home” sounds exactly like something a Broussard kin would concoct. It tastes of swampy southern soul combined with eerie New Orleans voodoo blues. However, Carencro’s glossy finish diminishes the believability of “Home.” “Home” is followed by “Rocksteady,” a track similar to a Robbie Williams sing along. The vocals sound nothing like the preceding track. Thus, the war of attrition begins… Tracks three, five, seven and eleven are strong soulful ballads. With track five adding elements of blues rock. Tracks four, six and eight, nine and ten are playful John Mayer type songs with a little more backbone. Both sides lost men, but pop ultimately wins with a total of six songs, while blues only scored five… …But wait, an untitled hidden track is soft, slow, optimistic, soulful and…poppy. The white flags have been drawn, a truce at last! Ultimately, I’m very impressed by the vocal magnitude of Marc Broussard. But, I’m not comfortable with the inconsistency of the track list. One power pop album and one soulful blues album may be a better strategy. I, for one, would buy the latter, not a combination. But I’m a picky listener, and record label executives aren’t marketing to me. [www.marcbroussard.com]