Unpacking My Library

Chronique

Aden guitarist Kevin Barker debuted the full-length of his Currituck County side project with Unpacking My Library in early 2002 on Teenbeat Records. Named after a county in North Carolina's Outer Banks, Barker's solo debut hints at country and folk influences, adding a new and startling component to his musical repertoire. The gentle guitar and vocals on "Hang Your Coat" reflect many of the same musical tendencies as his work in Aden, the dreamy Brooklyn-based (formerly headquartered in Washington, D.C., and Chicago) indie pop quartet. Many of the album's songs feature Barker's fingerpicking guitar and banjo and his effortless vocals narrating on a variety of topics, mostly focusing on human frailties and desires. He showcases his songwriting strengths on the gentle "Your Sway" and the feverishly optimistic "Let It Rain." Mark Greenberg, formerly of the Coctails, recorded the album and appears on vibraphone and melodica on a handful of songs; Eddie Carlson appears on bass. The standout "Now You're Leaving" includes xylophone; the serene "Old Song" and the whimsical "Outroduction" bring the disc to a graceful conclusion.
© Stephen Cramer /TiVo