REVIEW: Carter Brady – ‘Shopping Cart’

With ‘Shopping Cart’, New York’s Carter Brady delivers a gritty, modernised take on ‘90s alt-rock, threading a patchwork of rock genres through the album’s thirteen tracks. This project is a carefully crafted homage to the last three decades of rock, with his own distinctly personal stamp. Brady, a versatile multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, has distilled years of songwriting into this release, letting his meticulous ear for melody and deep rock influences shine.

‘Shopping Cart’ opens with ‘We’re Talking’, a high-energy track built on roaring guitars and a driving rhythm, capturing the essence of Brady’s love for big riffs and catchy hooks. The album is filled with rock callbacks, with ‘Instead’ and ‘So Late’ capturing the rugged spirit of bands like Foo Fighters and Weezer, while tracks like ‘Lost In This World’ pull in the moody textures of ‘The Bends’-era Radiohead. Brady’s ability to jump between anthemic, power-chord-heavy bangers and softer, introspective cuts keeps the album fresh and dynamic, echoing artists like Cage the Elephant and Smashing Pumpkins.

Brady’s live band—featuring Sammy Wags, Michael Iaciofano, and Ryan Datino—bring the songs to life with jazz and jam-inspired improvisation, giving Brady’s rock roots a uniquely modern twist as it plays. Their presence on the record, alongside the frontman’s polished production, elevates ‘Shopping Cart’ to a level that belies his indie status.

Already a fixture on the airwaves and college charts, Brady’s ‘Shopping Cart’ is a potent reminder of rock’s timelessness, proving that indie artists still hold the power to innovate while honouring the sounds of the past.