Carb On Carb - Single/Video Review: Man Says
The accompanying vid for Carb on Carb’s latest emo single Man Says is intriguing, and yet I feel like I’ve seen it, and lived it, a few times before. An old dog made to try various hats, a bedroom filled with messy New Zealand stationary (the Warwick A5 makes an appearance), gluggy nail polish and Vans checked wristbands. Beyond the bright pink WordArt there was an underlying sadness – it felt like a Sticky TV makeover gone wrong.
Carb on Carb are making age-appropriate songs for themselves and their peer group, but their fan base extends far beyond just the teens in Auckland. Their latest single discusses the flatness, loneliness and extensive boredom teens face while growing up, and the lengths they’ll go to in order to change things up for a while.
There’s a real sadness in this song that shouldn’t be ignored, however cute the video is. If Carb on Carb are saying that their friends and other school kids they know are willing to change themselves to such an extent to pass time – surely this shouldn’t be ignored? We’ve all been teenagers (and we’ve all accidentally dyed our hair the wrong colour) but have we all prayed our accent would go away? Or our skin colour, sexuality or gender would change? It no longer sounds like teens acting out for the sake of acting out.
So, what can we learn from Man Says? Other than that, a dog looks adorable in pink sunnies and a sweatband, we have a lot of work to do with Kiwi youth. If the Auckland dream is to wait patiently until you leave high school, change your appearance and work in a vintage store, then our young people are not aiming high enough. Somewhere along the way we are letting them down, and perhaps, with teenage insight from Carb on Carb we’ll know where best to project that help. For now, enjoy the video for Man Says and have a bit of a jump around – sometimes a good dance makes all the difference.
About Carb On Carb
Relentless touring won over fans across Australasia and the band temporarily relocated to Australia in 2017. This time away drew the band’s focus back to home with their celebrated second album For Ages (2018); an extended love letter to NZ, with “soaring vocals, a guitar tone warm as a woollen blanket, mathy lead bits, ever changing dynamics and crash cymbals that wash over you like the ocean...as good an emo release as you will hear anywhere this year” (4ZZZ).
After few years back in Aotearoa and the inevitable covid-delay factor, their third and final album Take Time was released in early 2024; "a cathartic and strangely calming experience. I can’t really think of many albums that tackle the topic of time and aging with such fun, irreverence and heartfelt emotion. Take Time is a collection of powerful songs, performed beautifully and written with absolute honesty. It’s what albums should be – an expression of the artist without filter” (Muzic.net.nz).
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Carb On Carb
Releases
Other Reviews By florencecohen
Queen Neptune - Single Review: Edge of the Programmed World
15 Mar 2019 // by florencecohen
Your first encounter with Queen Neptune will always be memorable. A polite, older man who could joke about his massive leather briefcase, Karl was the perfect hotel lift companion when we met on Queen Street.
Read More...
Khandallah - Single Review: Never Did with Hunter Davison
14 Mar 2019 // by florencecohen
Relationships are tough creatures to manoeuvre at any age, but particularly so when you’ve only just outgrown shopping at Hallensteins and made the bold and impressive move to step up to Barkers menswear. A smile here, a wave there, and a relationship is eagerly blossoming in Khandallah The Musical Artist’s eyes.
Read More...
A.U.R.A - Album Review: Secret Intelligent Light
08 Mar 2019 // by florencecohen
The first time I listened to this album I was irritated. It felt like everything I had tried to escape from in a yoga class – it oozed smugness, knowing it was both overly woke and melodious, twinkling in all the right places.
Read More...
Jasmine Tilyard - Single Review: Take It To The Grave
28 Feb 2019 // by florencecohen
I would not like to hurt Jasmine Tilyard. I’m sure she’s a sweet teenager under all that blonde angst, but honestly, I’d be terrified for my life and/or my reputation if ever we crossed paths.
Read More...
25 Feb 2019 // by florencecohen
Polar Extremes has nicely packaged your worst fears in their latest album Strange Visions 1. Haunting depictions of the end of the world, madness, sadness and wasted time.
Read More...
Kaylee Bell - Single Review: Keith
20 Feb 2019 // by florencecohen
It’s your classic Sunday ‘treat yourself’ evening – pizza, sweatpants, and a Netflix rom-com. By the time the camera finally pans away from the glossy couple with the perfect teeth, holding hands, walking away, you get this overwhelming big-heart-in-the-throat feeling.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
