The highly entertaining pop/folk band, S.O.M is built around and fronted by co-vocalists Don and Dave Carroll. The brothers signature close harmonies could only be genetic and with the great musicians that back them up on tour, "the high energy and deeply engaging album performances are carried seamlessly to the stage". The S.O.M sound is catching the ears of a fast growing fanbase. The band is packing houses and "electrifying audiences" wherever they play, both domestically and overseas. The band has generated a very impressive discography in a relatively short time with most of their seven albums featuring the songwriting of Dave Carroll. The depth and diversity of Dave's gift is showcased best on the latest all original S.O.M album Among The Living (June 2001, Fusion III). "The new album is like our live show ... we like to keep the energy level up but also run through the whole gamut of feelings and tempos" says Don. In November 2001, the bands first and long awaited Christmas album, Instant Christmas (Fusion III) hit the stores. Response from radio, the public, and the media has been outstanding.
Following the release of The Neighbourhood album (1998), S.O.M won industry awards and recognition, made the charts and CMTs Top 100 videos list. Based on the strength of their brand new album (Among the Living), they have garnered a 2002 East Coast Music Award. The first single to radio "So Confusing" received national airplay. The second single is "The 5:07". "Among The Living represents another evolution for Sons of Maxwell with on the whole stronger songwriting and a more focused direction in our sound ... the most distinctive qualities of S.O.M are still evident on Among The Living ... in all aspects this CD is simply better than anything we have released thus far" says Dave. Impressive reviews of the new work are pouring in and the touring (UK, France and Canada in 2002) continues.
2002 East Coast Music Award Roots/Traditional Group of The Year
Nova Scotia 2000 Galaxie Group of the Year
5 time East Coast Music Award nominee
#5 Best Atlantic Canadian Albums of All Time
#83 video, CMT Canadas 2000 Top 100
Ottawa Life: With a committed following and boundless energy, Sons of Maxwell will continue to achieve star status.
CMTs Year Top 100, #83: A duo of brothers from the Maritimes is proving to be the pair to watch on the horizon of success in Canada.
Reverb, Best Atlantic Canadian Albums of All Time, #5 of top 20 albums - The Neighbourhood: When you add The Neighbourhood to the other albums the Ds have to their credit, it's clear there's just no stopping the steady success of the brothers Carroll.
Herald, Halifax, NS: Over the past few albums Dave and Don Carroll have blossomed in their writing and performing, with their latest, Among The Living (Fusion III) sounding like a long-awaited goal, full of mature songs and polished performances.
Dave Carroll - Songwriter Bio
The songs (Oceanside Again) tart shuffle rhythm, killer chorus, and singalong lyrics delivered in lockstep harmony make it irresistible. Several other songs follow in similar footsteps - So Many Things, The Lighthouse, and Will You Come Home are direct, memorable, well-written songs performed with energy and finesse.
Ron Foley MacDonald, The Daily News, Halifax, NS
Dave Carroll, songwriter for Sons of Maxwell, has garnered much praise for his songwriting skills. When asked how the songs come to him, Dave responds, It is the melody - the music - that comes to me first. The melody and tempo dictate the mood the lyrics will take. Most of the songs I write are about people and stories. Dave has been invited to participate in many song circles over the years with the following highlights:
2001 Riverfront Jubilee Festival Songwriters Circle, New Glasgow, NS 2001 Official Canada Day Celebration Song Circle, Ottawa , ON 2001 East Coast Music Awards and Conference (ECMA), Nancy Whites Jokebox Songwriters Concert NSMW 2000 Songwriters Circle featuring Ian Thomas. Daves songs were very well received and his first song, Hold On, affected the audience greatly and left not a dry eye in the room. His second song, When the Circus Comes to Town, had the opposite effect producing chuckles and belly laughs throughout the audience. ECMA 1999 (NFLD) Songwriters Circle Hosted 1999 Stanfest Songwriters Circle, Canso, NS COCA 1999 Songwriters Circle
Other interesting facts:
Sons of Maxwells new CD, Among The Living, includes all original songs penned by Dave Carroll.
Among The Living was awarded an 2002 East Coast Music Award. Hold On, from Among The Living, about a man dealing with his wife succumbing to Alzheimers has been praised by The Alzheimer Society of Canada. The first single from the new project, So Confusing, is being well received at radio and is now being played on stations across Canada. Original songs from their previous CD, The Neighbourhood, received national radio airplay and three were videos on CMT Canada for Sons of Maxwell. Others have recorded Daves songs: Sixteen for Awhile by Celtic Connection, was a hit in NFLD, and a video on CMT Maggie by Highland Heights Oceanside Again by an independent NB band, The Mizzenmen
And here is more of what the critics said about Daves songwriting:
As for their original music, brother Dave looks after the writing end of the business and his pen is one of the most creative in the country. Their last disc, The Neighbourhood, is tangible proof Dave can turn a mean phrase when inspired.
Peter Heckbert, Truro Daily News
Dave Carroll, who penned eight of the 10 songs, proves hes no slouch in the writing department. Its got everything that I look for in an album great lyrics, wonderfully pleasant voices, excellent harmonies, up-tempo beats, top-notch hooks and incredible instrumentation. And it leaves me wanting to hear a whole lot more. Raymond Arsenault, The Journal-Pioneer
The Dave Carroll-penned Oceanside Again and The Lighthouse garnered positive radio programmer response, especially at key Ontario and Western Canadian Country and AC stations. Although not your typical commercial top 40 sounding act, Sons of Maxwell have already impressed dozens of music directors with their solid harmony and exceptional songs. Paul Kennedy, Radio Tracker
