Troy Cassar-Daley – Things I Carry Around (Album Review)

From Deadlys to ARIAs and Golden Guitars, it would seem that Australian country music artist Troy Cassar-Daley has won every accolade there is during his 30-year long career in the music industry, finding a special place in the hearts of nearly every Australian, regardless of music taste.

His latest album, Things I Carry Around is a collection of new material written as an accompaniment to Daley’s memoir of the same name, detailing the earlier part of this icon’s career up until he was in his early 20s. Featuring co-writes with other industry greats such as Paul Kelly, Don Walker and Colin Buchanan, the album is a journey of wonderous musical proportions, something of the magnum opus of Daley’s career.

 

If the press release is to be believed, ‘Things I Carry Around is like opening up a large suitcase and having memories and family pictures and sounds and scents and tears and laughter and heartbreak all tumble out around you; a case full of life in all its variations.’ Though I don’t usually hold much stock in these kind of things, this is one that rings true.

 

For me (and many other country music fans), the appeal of this genre is its storytelling, and it is something which Daley does with flair. The record opens with Funny How Things Change, an ode almost, to the changes he has seen throughout his life and how he has adapted to such things, regardless of whether he was in favour of it or not. A fairly upbeat track, it is classic of the type of music he is known for and sets the tone well for the rest of the release, but in my opinion it is the second track, Halfway Creek, Timber Cutting Man where the album really takes off.

This track has something of an edge to it, a bluesy feel that really appeals to me. Throw in cool guitar licks and a rock-ish feel, and you’ve got a winner as Daley sings, “Did you sharpen that saw blade right?” with an almost threatening tone that is in complete parallel to the singer’s upbeat, happy persona.

Title track, Things I Carry Around comes next before a short prelude leads listeners into the Paul Kelly co-write Brighter Day. Sung with wife Laurel Edwards, this is a tender ballad about losing a loved one. If you don’t get chills (and perhaps even shed a few tears) with this one, your heart may be made of stone. This is followed by When My Daddy Played, yet another sweet song in which Daley pays tribute to his father and his own love of music. Of all the tracks on the album, these latter two are perhaps my overall favourites.

Country Music’s Coming To Town and On My Way Back Home offer a slight change of pace before yet another instrumental break leads into My Gumbaynggirr Skies – in  which Daley reflects on his childhood holidays at Grandma’s house. Here he sings, “When my life is over/sprinkle me there/underneath my Gumbaynggirr skies.”  Yet another sweet song that those who are drawn to lyrically profound tracks could easily fall in love with.

Smoked with Willie and Merle is a song which definitely deserves its own special mention. Generally, this would not be to my taste but, knowing the back story to this track [Daley toured with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard early on in his career], it is certainly a fitting tribute to Nelson and the Haggard, the latter of whom passed away earlier this year.

Don Walker co-write Down the Road offers yet another change of pace as Daley explores a unique gospel side to his voice. Certainly, this is not something I would expect to hear from him, but with its cool vocals and slick guitar, it’s definitely worth a listen.

If My Heart Was a Town is a little bit more like your typical country ballad, a tale of first love lost, which is quickly followed up by the more upbeat Running. Though markedly different, both are great tracks I can easily imagine played on radio stations nationwide in no time flat.

First Night Alone (co-written by Angela Kaset) is apparently a song first written after Daley had a conversation with his father about his parents’ divorce, and once again showcases just how well this singer does when taking someone else’s story and adapting it to his own song writing: with heart and sensitivity. Another highlight of a record filled with many.

Written with Colin Buchanan, Certified Railway Man is the last “upbeat” track of the album, one which will appeal to fans of country music in its traditional form. One that will have listeners up and dancing or singing along.

This storyteller’s record is rounded out by Blue Lights. Originally written with Don Walker as a song, it takes the form of a spoken word poem on this release: a decision which does its lyrical purity true justice. Backed only by light acoustic guitar, it is simple and pure, but then again all the best things are. Perfection in the space of two minutes and forty-six seconds.

As evidenced by this review, this album is full of standout songs which will appeal to listeners everywhere, be they fans of country music, music lovers or just those with a fondness for the written word. If Daley’s memoir is half as good as the accompanying Things I Carry Around, we’re in for a treat!

[Editor/Author Note: This review was originally published by AMNplify.]