For starters, I am no acclaimed music critic, and the vast sentiment all around basically stacks the deck in favor of positive response from all directions.
I felt so fortunate to find the entire CD shared at this link, and I have since purchased two copies - one for me and one for a far-away friend (who probably won't relate to the rain-related songs like most of us do).
When I first found the collection of songs online I was considerably let-down by the appearance of unfamiliar instrumental sounds in the background of one or two of the previously-released songs. I had wanted so badly to obtain a copy of the original, 4-song CD, to no avail. I'm happy to report that I've been listening to the album over and over again for hours, and loving just about every bit of it.
I can certainly appreciate that considerable and crafty CSI-like work had to be done to extract the best of Carly Henley from the relatively simple recordings she made of her own music. In some cases they isolated Carly and then re-built the song around her. In other cases her friends and family members served up the songs themselves, sometimes using Carly's voice in the background.
The CD is presented professionally on all counts yet I sense that "insiders" are more able than outsiders to pick-up on the subtle ways that Carly's own voice is used in company with others on some of the tracks.
The strikingly clear sharpness of the selections is refreshing, as is the chance to hear the tunes with enough volume (in contrast to YouTube in some instances) so that one doesn't feel as if he's seated in the quiet darkness of a campground or beach as Carly serenades her friends on low volume.
The lyrics continue to represent Carly's depth and through them I feel odd-seeming additional dimensions of Carly continuing to present themselves some eight months after her passing.
1. Mistakes This one starts off in a cute and playful way, although that makes me question its placement as the first track. Maybe that isn't the best initial impression to give considering a very pleasant CD full of sentimental music. You'll find that the lyrics are all Carly, and all inspirational.
2. Free From You This was one of four songs already widely circulated at Carly's various online websites and it continues to afford a great sense of her depth and sentiments.
3. She's Beautiful Here's another of Carly's tried and true tracks and this one affords the most hints about Carly's self image (which, to a "math brain", seems an Algebra equation without an answer). The song is as touching as was Carly's obvious spirit.
4. Rain You can find Carly singing this one on YouTube, but it's nice to hear it with more volume as her accomplished-musician cousin serves it up on the CD. The sentiments are all Carly's, and it's touching for that reason as much as any. (Note Carly's voice at the end of the song) "She loved the rain"
5. The Way Things Are This one sounds very much like talented Canadian musician Jann Arden as Carly's lyrics are performed by artist Natalie Closner
6. How Will I Know The lyrics on this one speak as to Carly's uncertainty about taking what seem like romantic risks, for fear of being hurt. The song is done professionally by artist Allen Stone
7. The Skin You're In The title track, and it means a whole lot that Carly wrote it while in high school and won her school's "Idol"/talent competition with a performance that is preserved on YouTube for everyone to remember and enjoy. (Go see that YouTube video and watch how the other students take to her - it sorta makes you wish you could have that effect on people)
8. Perfect Here's another of the tunes already widely available at Carly's various websites. Its charm is partly derived from the contrast of Carly seeming/sounding like a shy girl with a big heart in words and tone while most who consider Carly tend to imagine her to have rare and vast social appeal.
9. Come Out of The Rain - Carly's cousin Carson jams on this one in duet, and the song really turned out well after having been completed by family members after Carly's death.
10. Star This is a particularly sentimental offering, the YouTube version of which (at least) is dedicated to Carly's younger sister. The words are deep and sincere, and Carly's (youngest?) cousin (born one day apart from Carly herself) steals the show like "Pippa" in an emphatic presentation of what is an amazing song.
11. By The Tide "Local boy and a tourist girl..." and romance blossoms by the tide. The song was written by Carly while on an airplane enroute back to Seattle from vacation.
12. Still Dream I Can Fly This one has great lyrics with Carly presenting herself as a humble, well-adjusted young adult and the tune is catchy in the way to which most have become accustomed. Many young adults just don't speak with the well-groundedness Carly suggests with these lyrics.
13. You Move Me The final track on the CD is all Carly Henley, featuring sweet lyrics and her innocent voice. The song seems to reverse the many popular sentiments in the present while seeming to find Carly thanking the many fortunate people who were prominent in making her life pretty special for twenty years. She was humble and sincere just like that.
Here's to hoping that my distant friend will be inspired by what is an uplifting and inspirational collection of songs, each written by the late Carly Henley, whose image continues to grow and grow...
Carly Henley was someone I'd never even heard of before she took her own life at the age of 20 while a talented, popular and attractive junior at university. She seemed the person nobody would ever guess for such a fate. The media doesn't generally cover suicide but Carly Henley could inspire so much caring and understanding and it has to start somewhere... I attempt to present this blog without hurting or offending Carly Henley's family or anyone else but suicide is a delicate subject.
I learned of the death of college student Carly Henley two days after her passing, on October 6, 2010. In the days soon to follow it became clear that scores and scores of people were wounded to the core by the loss. Wonderful evidence around the internet serves to almost suspend Carly Henley's personable allure, her impressive musical talent, and a short life the likes of which most anybody could envy.
Various reports tell of her short term struggle with depression of perhaps three months in duration. Significant in that was the introduction of anti-depressant drug Zoloft via prescription some two weeks before Carly took her own life.
Not lost on me now, finally, is the wording in the "Black Box Warning" with Zoloft, which states that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in persons younger than 25. Risk is especially heightened during the first two months of taking anti-depressants.
The labels on anti-depressant drugs in the U.S. were altered to reference young adults aged 18 to 24 just three years earlier - in 2007.
It is my belief, now, that Carly just happened to land among the small percentage of anti-depressant users who are susceptible to being so affected by a powerful drug such as Zoloft.
One need not ever have known such a remarkable woman to feel the pain all around at the loss of Carly Henley.
So many life lessons are so well represented by Carly Henley's compelling spirit. Let me see if I can help some to gain fuller appreciation for a woman who continues to inspire everyone who ever knew of her.
Various reports tell of her short term struggle with depression of perhaps three months in duration. Significant in that was the introduction of anti-depressant drug Zoloft via prescription some two weeks before Carly took her own life.
Not lost on me now, finally, is the wording in the "Black Box Warning" with Zoloft, which states that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in persons younger than 25. Risk is especially heightened during the first two months of taking anti-depressants.
The labels on anti-depressant drugs in the U.S. were altered to reference young adults aged 18 to 24 just three years earlier - in 2007.
It is my belief, now, that Carly just happened to land among the small percentage of anti-depressant users who are susceptible to being so affected by a powerful drug such as Zoloft.
One need not ever have known such a remarkable woman to feel the pain all around at the loss of Carly Henley.
So many life lessons are so well represented by Carly Henley's compelling spirit. Let me see if I can help some to gain fuller appreciation for a woman who continues to inspire everyone who ever knew of her.
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