Songs About Leaving is the third full-length release from Seattle nouveau rockers
Carissa's Wierd. Highly deserving of the label "art rock" in many respects and "indie folk-rock" in others,
Carissa's Wierd presents 12-tracks of hauntingly poignant vignettes, brought to life through a dynamic employment of classic string and keyboard elements (standouts include "Farewell to All These Rotten Teeth" and "September Come Take This Heart Away"). Jenn Ghetto and co-singer Matthew Brooke are extremely subtle in their vocalizations, with "You Should Be Hated Here" casting an almost ghost-like pall over chamber pop melodies, as well as "The Piano Song" and venomous scenarios "Sofisticated F**k Princess Please Leave Me Alone" and "Ignorant Piece of Sh*t." Their dual guitar play and vocal interchange are also well orchestrated to complement the moody, yet sprightly musical accompaniment of Sarah Standard and Jeff Hellis.
Songs About Leaving's abundance of down-turned emotional muck may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it definitely stands out as something not quite so ordinary in the musical landscape. ~ Roxanne Blanford