Artist To Watch: John Carpenter

It's fitting the Jersey-born New York-to-Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist John Carpenter shares a name with the man behind the Halloween franchise: There's something autumnal and spooky about his soulful, romantic rock 'n' roll. See, for instance, "Seasons," the A-Side of his new Mexican Summer 7": It sounds like vintage Scott Walker fronting the Zombies. (To get more contemporary, you might think, too, of a hazier sounding Fresh & Onlys.) By the time you get to the jangling B-Side "Haunt My Home," you'll understand why he mentions Roy Orbison, Echo & The Bunnymen, John Cale, and "early" Roxy Music as influences for his gothic-tinged garage. Both of those songs were initially included on his self-released Demos And Live Fiascos, but are now "no longer part of the release," ostensibly to draw focus to the single. When you add those to his recent 4-song Possibilities EP, you're getting closer to accumulating a proper full length's worth of material, something we'd really appreciated. Take a listen.

John Carpenter - "Seasons" (MP3)

"Haunt My Home"

Here's "One For Me," the opening tack from the EP:

The "Seasons" b/w "Haunt My Home" 7" is out now via Mexican Summer. His Possibilities EP is out via Lost Industry. If you're in the Los Angeles area, catch him live:

09/19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Silver Factory Studios
09/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge

Posted at 3:12 PM in Band To Watch, MP3, Tour Dates
Tags: John Carpenter

6 Comments

Tragically, this man can only hope to ever be the second most rocking person named John Carpenter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D03E9kUTTtQ

Posted by: M at 09/18/09 5:00 PM  | Reply
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Wow...
And this was rereleased TWICE?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Trouble_in_Little_China_%28soundtrack%29

Posted by: Scott  in reply to M's comment at 09/19/09 12:10 AM  | Reply
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'Seasons' is amazing. whatever is happening here is not being done by anyone else in this decade. or at least, not sounding half as good. can't wait for more.

Posted by: G at 09/19/09 7:44 PM  | Reply
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This is some of the best stuff happening right now. Finally some real honesty!!

Posted by: vvonricci at 09/19/09 8:32 PM  | Reply
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Very awesome. I am definitely looking for that 7" This reminds me of a tape that I had as a kid, but I can NOT for the life of me remember the artist. This will do. It's great.

Posted by: quartertonality at 09/20/09 3:45 PM  | Reply
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i found more blogs!!! http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=251914960&blogId=491174543

Posted by: carmela at 09/20/09 3:54 PM  | Reply
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