Album Review: Break Your Own Heart

This second album from Carty is an acoustic foray into the world of indie folk and personal musings. The whimsical nature of these songs highlights the album's strengths and weaknesses using a sense of humour to keep things in check. Carty is happy to sing about the nuances of the Melbourne indie fashion scene or as readily about why a girlfriend left him. Fortunately his persona sees the dark side of relationships with his tongue in his cheek.

I must admit I'm not a fan of the lo-fi acoustic solo artist in general, but at times Carty does go beyond the expected. The best songs here include She Loves Me and A Master Of All Things. The latter wouldn't be out of place on an Indigo Girls album or on a traditional folk artist's album. At the other end of the spectrum there is the flawed She's Got A Boyfriend, which becomes all too familiar. The jovial nature of the track is annoying and contrived. Everything, Unhappily survives a similar problem by rising above the mundane with a brilliant vocal take. Together with Leroy Lee's guitar motifs it's the obvious radio track on the album.

The hangover from Lisa Mitchell's close mic technique is evident on Carty's album as he often sings in a minimal manner that is at times too gentle. There is no doubt Carty is a talent with a nice turn of phrase and you can hear the joy he brings to the table. Perhaps he should concentrate on breaking some other hearts next time around.