"There are no frills or large cinematic productions (on Lover Undercover), but rather the songs are unadorned, bare and vulnerable like a newborn baby, and enraptured in the same innocence." -Northeast In-Tune
"Lover Undercover...features 11 songs that are all different yet all charmed with (Carroll's) unique sound. Listeners will detect influences such as Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Patty Griffin, as well as hints of indie rock, doo-wop, and folk...Often, as with the song 'This Love Inside Me', his guitar playing takes on a bluesy, soulful feel, which he accompanies with his soulful, motownesque vocals. Songs such as 'Angel's Arms' incorporate gentle strumming and a 50s-sounding refrain." -The Outlook
*****
Ben Carroll’s soulful, powerful voice lives somewhere at the crossroads of Stevie Wonder and James Taylor—he’s captivating, distinctive, mesmerizing. With the help of his accomplished acoustic guitar playing, he moves his audiences with his plaintive songwriting, written from the heart and with a thoughtful, sometimes keen eye, while exploring the endless themes of love, of a search for a place and meaning in the world. A soul and folk artist at once, Carroll has steadily toured North America and Europe as a solo act since 2004. He released his debut solo album Lover Undercover in 2005 and his followup Real Thing in 2007 (on UK label Blue Cloud Records), which was number 1 for five weeks on AAA FM Radio in Ohio and was played on over fifty radio stations in the US and Europe. His songs have also been featured in television and film, most recently in Pier’s End Productions’ 2008 release “Wake”, which premiered at the Tribeca Cinema in New York City (home of the Tribeca Film Festival). Amore Magazine's reader poll voted Carroll a top solo artist, and his songwriting and performances have been celebrated by the New York Songwriters Circle and BMI New York.
Coming from a musical family as the son of Grammy-winning Starland Vocal Band members ("Afternoon Delight", 1976), Carroll enjoyed a rich musical exposure in his childhood, chiefly in the veins of harmony-laden folk and pop of the 70s, and the R&B/Soul/Roots sounds of the deep south. These influences have been naturally integrated into his music, lustrously evoked by his poetic delivery and his voice of startling honesty and beauty.
For full credits, bio and contacts, please visit www.bencarroll.com
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