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Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel - Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel
By Ryan Conway
(08/25/09)

The self-titled debut album from Nova Scotia rockers, Carleton Stone Drives the Big Wheel offers a solid blend of rock and maritime flavour. The Sydney natives have only been together since last July and the fact that they have managed to work together as well as they do and to progress so quickly is nothing short of impressive.

Lead singer and guitarist Carleton Stone is a talented performer and has a top-notch vocal range. He handles both the hard rock songs and the softer folk ballads that the band has to offer with ease.

Guitarist John Hatcher, bassist Brian Burns, drummer Dylan Mombourquette and keyboardist Kyle Varley are each skilled musicians who can set the tone to each song perfectly. The best example of this is “Handgun/Shotgun.” It is the best song on the album by far. It’s not that the other songs aren’t up to par. It’s that this song is just so good. The heavy use of both guitars and bass and of course Stone’s vocals are awesome. But I would say what really makes this song stand out is the performance from Varley. As the keyboard really helps the song come together and helps make a truly rocking tune.

Another song on the album that I absolutely love is “Nobody’s Prisoner.” It's a light and upbeat song. It reminds us to live for ourselves and not for other people. It has a sound that seems to be heavily influenced by folk music and has a maritime charm. For me, the song has a very nostalgic feel as it reminds me of the country and East Coast music that I would hear in my house when I was growing up.

Two other songs from the album that standout are “Master Builder” and “Ghosts.” They demonstrate the band’s range in musical style. Their ability to play both lighter and heavier fare is showcased through these songs. “Master Builder” is a well-performed emotional ballad with some nice female backup vocals. “Ghosts” is heavy from the get go and a very entertaining song. It does get softer and more emotional towards the end of the song. However, the song does become heavy again before the song concludes. But the transitions are flawless and only add to the song.

The album as a whole is a solid debut from a band that has a lot of potential. Pick it up or download it from Itunes. I close this article by saying, “Give a Caper a break eh?”

Related links:
+ Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel (website)
+ Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel (MySpace)


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Ryan Conway is a second year student of the Holland College Journalism program. He is 23 years old and a graduate of Cape Breton University with a major in both English and Political Science. He is also a lover of all things nerd.