Mary Chapin Carpenter

I heard MC-C interviewed on NPR and immediately sent the CD for Christmas gifts to friends, one to self. It was too mellow, each song sounding too much like the previous. I particularly liked Longest Night of the Year, however. Still, it was a welcome addition to our Christmas music.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's Come Darkness Come Light has beautifully simple arrangements of Christmas songs that are as gentle as snowflakes settling to earth. These collection of songs capture the soulful rhythms of a quiet and starlit winter's Christmas night. You'll never grow tired of listening to its peaceful message of promise and hope.

Was really dissappointed with this CD. I played it once and did not have a desire to play again. I'm not a devoted fan of the artist, but was not thrilled with the selections or arrangements.

Her voice is as great as ever but the tunes seemed rather flat. Was hoping for a Christmas Classic in the making but missed the mark.
Enjoyed a couple tracks but won't recommend it to others.

I love Mary Chapin Carpenter, but this CD has some very depressing songs on it, especially for Christmas. I expected catchy and lively tunes from her. Her tenor voice adds to the somber effect.

Unlike the reviewer Gilchrist, I'm glad artists like Carpenter, Springsteen, The Dixie Chicks and many others aren't shy about sharing their political views. Those who want to control our speech and political perspectives would prefer that people just ignore politics, or advance a politics of happy talk and god-blessing ourselves. Fortunately, most people refuse to be mind-numbed dittoheads and can deal with critical thought. Carpenter's politics are of the sort that are promoted in the Bible, which include working for social justice Yes!. There are plenty of right-wingers in this country who choose silence and complicity with America's corporate-military matrix The Corporation, and there are 'artists' like Lee Greenwood to entertain them. Other people prefer that artists mix their craft with awareness of the realities of the world, such as the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina When the Levees Broke - A Requiem In Four Acts (Documentary). Regarding 9/11, it was a horrific attack, but the death toll was small compared to what U.S. state terrorists have been inflicting on other countries for generations Rogue State, 3rd Edition: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower.
Carpenter was prescient in suggesting that the U.S. could have decent people in elected office again, as the Obama revolution has proven; but there is another revolution that is taking place in places like Venezuela and Brazil. That movement is based on grassroots power, not the power of politicians Beyond Elections: Redefining Democracy in the Americas, and it is advanced by musicians who don't care about the voices who threaten them with lost sales.
Here are a few other artists who have been raising consciousness, much to the dismay of authoritarian thought police:
Come on Now Social
Stay Human
Sonic Jihad
Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran

OK, I've been a MCC fan-have most of her stuff, and once again, just like all of the other media-induced biased robots from Hollywood to New York-continue jumping on the bandwagon of the loud-mouths to judge and point fingers, when most of those people do not have the first sense or clue of the issues, or how we get to where we are at any given time. You cannot put all of the issues & challenges(when was the last time we ever had to deal with a 9/11?!) of this diverse and complex nation into a box, and label it. People in this country are some-so uninvolved and/or clueless, they're happy just to be able to get a fix by griping and complaining and be a bunch of spoiled cry-babies. The only result is tearing down this country, instead of lifting it up. People like Springsteen, the Dixie Ducks, Whoopi, Alec Baldwin, MCC..etc...should shut-up and entertain. I say that even when I may agree with some! Their opinions serve absolutely no purpose-none, but to ultimately shoot themselves in the foot by turning people off from buying their music, & movies. Doesn't sound too intelligent to me, but apparently that's par for the course. So, having said that, I'm surprised MCC, like the Dixie Ducks, in a musical community of Country artists, who's beliefs & values shun the negative attitudes, do not uphold the tradition of the faith-based country community. Maybe it's that they all cannot come up with anything else to say or talk about. For the entertainers out there: It's your perogative to roll the dice with your careers and the fans you claim to care about(only if they're buying your cds, and concert or movie tickets), but please do not use your entertainment platform, as a pulpit for spewing negativity in your personal views & opinions-guess what? Like my comments here I'm sure...NO ONE CARES!

I like it better when an artist doesn't try to tell me how right thier way of thinking is and how wrong any other political view has to be. I mean they should just stick to entertaining since none of them are smart enough to do more than that.

That aside this is just okay music compared to much of her other work. If you happen to be a big fan (like me) you will likely want this cd (and mostly enjoy it). If you are looking to give Mary Chapin Carpenter a try then I would look into Stones in the Road for a first purchase.

This album is her best yet. If you're looking for some of her more hook heavy styled songs like ,SHUT UP&KISS ME ,I FEEL LUCKY& PASSIONET KISSES,this may not be the album for you.If you're looking for songs with depth, passion and strong lyrical and musical content,BUY IT! She has come a long way since her early days. The more you listen to it the more you will love it. The songs have real heart, depth and meaning. Her vocals are as strong as I have ever heard fom her,both musically&recorded. The recording is impeccable,both strong&clear,with vocals that are super strong. The songs are all strong & meaningful.IF you are not moved by "HOUSTON" there is something wrong with you! THIS IS TRUE AMERICANA at it's finest!!!!!!!!!!

Although this album didn't win the grammy for which it was nominated - it is well worth adding to your collection of awesome music! Most inspirational album - another great one that could only come from the talents of Mary Chapin Carpenter!

f you like MCC, and I most certainly do, this is a must have! Variety, quality of both music line and lyrics, and inteligent exposes on humankind make this a wonderful listen.

Good compilation of MCC songs. Probably 5 stars if you're a fan. MCC sings songs about life, the small details and the big events, and does it with real feeling and insight. Good tunes:

Shut Up and Kiss Me - very good, kinda rocks, kinda arousing forward attitude from a woman to a man

I Take My Chances - great lyrics, ranging from amusing to ironic. Nice line on televangelism: "he'd show me the way to the Lord in return for my personal check. So I flipped the channel and lit another cigarette."

I Feel Lucky - a good, fun, kinda catty song. The singer being fought over by Dwight Yoakum and Lyle Lovett is a good image.

Quittin Time - VEry good, a moving song about a love that's dying but the lovers just aren't sure how to finally wrap it up.

Down at the Twist and Shout - kind of homage to Cajun culture. A festive number about letting loose at a bayou bash.

Hard Way - very good, it's moving and gritty. Singer and lover have fought for what they have; stuff wasn't just handed to them.

A good collection of most of her best songs to the date of publication.

I often listen to this CD which never fails to make me smile. Carpenter's talent and humor shimmer throughout, and "Ten Thousand Miles" captivates me each time I listen to it.

Highest recommendations!!

Beautiful songs, beautiful voice. Some songs are a bit rough to listen to. Overall a good CD by a great singer.

I don't even like country music, but I love this album! It has a lot of well-crafted, sing-along-able melodies, profound and moving lyrics, and simple but delightful instrumentation. It sounds like a cross between folk music and country music, combining the best of both genres.

This is one of my favorites. I have heard people compare parts of it to Warren Zevon or even The Indigo Girls, and I see a little Jimmy Buffett in there as well.

The mood is a little sadder here than in Come On, Come On, but it's still much more thoughtful than depressing.

You'll feel like flying after listening to this wonderful cd by Mary Chapin Carpenter. SHUT AND KISS ME was the big hit on this but it is filled with gems, HOUSE OF CARDS can kick start anyone's day. WHY WALK WHEN YOU CAN FLY is the lead song and it clearly sets the table for the enjoyable feel that this cd is. Beautifully crafted songs, distinctive voice. STONES IN THE ROAD is one you'll listen to over and over.

MCC is a true artist. Everything she has done has built up to this pinnacle. She is truly one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world today, an absolute treasure.

This is one of those albums that just takes you to another level, another place. There is no way to categorize this music; it is just good listening! Every song is cohesive. Every song is its own story, and the entire album ties together so wonderfully.

I thought I had reviewed "Stones in the Road" a long, long time ago. Don't ask me how I managed to skip writing a splendid review of one of fellow Brunonian Mary Chapin Carpenter's best albums. Here she offers a somewhat more somber, bleaker tone, than expressed in her earlier albums, "Shooting Straight in the Dark", and especially, "Come On Come On". Still, this works as a rather convincing, quite coherent body of work, replete with her eloquent, thoughtful lyrics and rich melodies, all of which were written solely by herself. In this regard, "Stones in the Road" is most reminiscient of Elton John's "The One", which should be regarded more for offering an entire album of excellent songs often thematically related to each other, than merely as an album which yielded a couple of great hit singles like "The One" and "The Last Song". My favorite song from Carpenter's 1994 album remains the title track "Stones in the Road", which is without question, among her finest ballads. But I also like a lot her feisty "Shut Up and Kiss Me", which owes more to her interest in honky tonk country music, than the otherwise predominantly folk/rock orientation of this album. "Stones in the Road" is yet another reason why I regard Mary Chapin Carpenter as one of our great country/folk songwriters, whom I compare favorably to both Nancy McCallion of The Mollys, that great Tucson, Arizona-based Celtic/country/Mexican band, and of course, Lucinda Williams, whose song "Passionate Kisses" was covered by Carpenter in her album "Come on Come On", and became one of Carpenter's greatest hits.

Along with Aimee Mann's solo debut Whatever, this is my favorite album of the 1990s. Great magery, especially in the title track. A must have for any MCC fan.

This is a great CD for those who enjoy country music and those who like just a little.

This CD is perfect for any mood you are in. There are upbeat songs, soothing songs, thoughtful songs----anything you are looking for. One of the best!!

This is the one Mary Chapin-Carpenter CD that everyone should have. There's not a weak song on it, nor any false sentiment; every word and chord rings true and beautiful. It appeals to everyone, not just women, and several of the songs are downright toughminded: "The Hard Way," "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," "Walking Through Fire," and "I Take My Chances." But Mary also sings funloving songs like "I Feel Lucky" and "The Bug," and tender ones like "Rhythm of the Blues" and the title track. Rounding out the album are the impossibly romantic "Not Too Much to Ask," Lucinda Williams' wonderful "Passionate Kisses," and the heartbreaking "Only a Dream." I can't say enough good things about this album. Just get it. You'll love it, too.

Like probably many people, I've been a fan of Chapin since this album was released in 1992... truly it was her breakthrough album. And with good reason, too: not only was it an incredible country-crossover when country music was the "latest rage", but it's also an unbelievably good album.

After so many years of being a fan - I own all of her albums - I finally had the chance to see her in concert at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT. The show consisted of her and only three other musicians (including longtime cohorts John Jennings and John Carroll). No drummer accompanied them. She and the band were seated throughout the show as evidence of "how old and creaky" they've become (her words, not mine). They simply played, and the music was soulful, deep and magical.

It inspired me to finally praise "Come On Come On", which is still to this day my favorite album of hers. Yes, she's done other amazing work both before (the wistful folk and bubbly country of "State of the Heart", 1989) and after (the insightful and post-9/11-weary "Between Here and Gone, 2004)... but I still like this album best. Simply put, there isn't a bad song on it. I can't imagine anyone not being riled up by the entirely-justified feminist rant of "He Thinks He'll Keep Her", or not be moved by the sad, sullen beauty of "I Am a Town".

Simply put: If I was allowed on 10 CDs to accompany me to a desert island, this would be one of them. If you don't own it, you should... it's a classic.

I say that this album is Mary's best ever. It is trully a work of art, a collection of songs of amazing depth and timeless quality. It is one of those rare times when an album can move you, and stir up emotions not previously realised. The sheer beauty in these songs should give you a greater appreciation for being in the position and time in history where you are able to participate in their glory.

If you love Mary Chapin Carpenter, you are going to really love the music on this album - introspective, reflective, meaningful - profound.

If you are the MCC fan of songs such as "A Town" and "10,000 Miles", as I am, then welcome to Carpenter bliss! No rock-a-billy here, thankfully. Carpenter delivers a slew of music on "Between" for rainy, chilly and fog-filled nights. The mournful strings and piano are a perfect accompaniment for her soothing vocals. The opening track is as fast as this chanteuse is willing to go. From there on it's slow motion. She does pick up a bit again with "Beautiful Racket".

"Girls Like Me" is a chilling description of the power of simplicity and how we often overlook the no frills people in our lives for the more flashy. Carpenter seems to be saying she's done with "flash". Brava. Also wonderful are "Grand Central Station" and "The Shelter of Storms" - just Mary, an instrument or two and tons of soul. Simply wonderful.

Once again Mary Chapin Carpenter has amazed me with her beautiful words and music. She's an artist that is very much an individual.

The CD "Between Here And Gone" is fantastic. Many wonderful songs and melodies.

Timeless lyrics - Great music!
The seller shipped this item in a bubble-wrap envelope. Although the CD arrived unscathed, the jewel case was cracked, apparently from the pressure of other packages in shipment.

For years Mary Chapin Carpenter has been labeled a C&W artist and for a while country music embraced her, and it's a good thing they did for if not she would still probably be doing nightly gigs at The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria and no one except those fortunate few would get to hear her. Now that she's established she can do what what she wants and if this is it, I couldn't be more pleased.
This is a beautiful album full of memorable melodies and emotionally passionate lyrics. She has always written with passion and truth and is in my opinion one of the finest songwriters ever. C&W she is not and fans of Shawn Colvin and Ali DiFranco should check this out.

Let's get one thing straight. Mary Chapin Carpenter is my favorite singer/songwriter of all time, bar none. Her previous and subsequent albums have been consistently stellar and far more ambitious and intelligent than anything her contemporaries have tossed at us. And if "Time*Sex*Love*" were presented by any other artist, it would rank as a career highlight. So why am I only giving it three stars? Because this is the only one of her albums that I have trouble listening to from start to finish without skipping tracks.

Why is this? Because there are just too many slow, sound-alike ballads in the middle of the piece (five, to be exact), sandwiched around the uptempo "This is Me Leaving You," which is probably one of the weakest songs Carpenter has ever written. The album just drags for me, and doesn't seem nearly as vital or alive as "Stones in the Road" or "Come On Come On," or even this year's "Between Here and Gone." Carpenter has always been generous with the number of songs presented, but with fourteen songs and a bonus track she would have been well-advised to cut one of the ballads to aid in the album's momentum.

That said, there are many things to like about this album as well. The '60's throwback sounds of "Maybe World," which would sound right at home on a Mamas and the Papas album; the insightful and beautiful "Late for Your Life," which she has taken to closing concerts with; the eloquent plea to slow down and enjoy life which is "The Long Way Home"; and the first single "Simple Life," which bombed on country radio evidently because it dealt with issues other than chasing men or crying over busted romances. Ironically, the first half of the album is the best, when the reverse is usually true with this artist.

I know I'll be in trouble with other fans for not loving this album, but sorry. I love Carpenter's music, whether its the fun, uptempo stuff or the slow, beautifully observed ballads. This one, however, just doesn't have the same effect on me as her other albums. But make no mistake, second-rate Carpenter is still better than anything Faith, Martina, Shania, Reba and JoDee put out on their best days.

This is one of Mary Chapin Carpenter's best albums she's recorded yet. I look forward to her new one BETWEEN HERE AND GONE with lots of excitement. *TIME *SEX *LOVE is a great CD of reflective songs that you will more than likely enjoy. Her first new album since the lackluster 1996 album A PLACE IN THE WORLD, this is a step in the right direction. There's some really nice ballads with her warm vocals all over them. "Alone But Not Lonely" is a favorite of mine, some really nice lyrics and a nice melody. The closing "Late For Your Life" is also nice, and it has a bonus hidden track. "What Was It Like" is another great ballad, heartbreaking. There's some nice uptempo songs like "Slave to the Beauty", "Whenever You're Ready", "In The Name Of Love", "This Is Me Leaving You", etc. Other good songs include "King of Love", "Swept Away", "The Dreaming Road" and "Someone Else's Prayer". Overall a strong album from Mary Chapin Carpenter that should have a place in every CD collection!

and so should all of us. As much as I love every other album she has sung, I love this one as another step forward in life. More experiences, more lessons learned, more choices---reflections based on new directions taken as we grow older.

Unlike some of the other slightly disappointed reviewers, I WANT MCC to keep evolving by turning over new stones in a new road. She is being honest and true to herself, and I love the woman and hearing the voice of that woman as her life changes.

It's obvious that she continues to grow, and I want to hear what new things she's discovered. My loyalty is to the woman and the messages she shares. I have no expectations except a rewarding experience and a sense of continued identity as MCC continues to sing.

Today, I am feeling especially connected and spiritual, because last night I heard Mary Chapin, Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin, and Patty Griffin singing live and intimately sharing conversation with each other and their Pittsburgh audience. Strength and beauty, self-discovery and sharing, hard-won choices and coping with reality, stories of everyday life and consequences of loving---all underlined by driving guitars and ghosts I could identify with.

These songs are art for enjoyment and enrichment. These are artists reaching out to their audience and trusting us to benefit from their gifts. That's how I receive their songs. How could I object to them?

Anyone who knows Mary Chapin Carpenter must agree with me that she is likely the country's best song writer since Carly Simon and Carole King ruled the air waves in the 70's. Enough said. I bought this CD frankly because I have everything else she has produced and this was the only one I didn't have. 10 songs, 8 of which are MCC at her best, and 2 obligatory "country" tunes, which I don't necessarily care for. But I understand the need to put those tunes on a disc to please certain fans. I also encourage any fan and everyone else to get a copy of her first Christmas album, just released, called "Come Darkness, Come Light." You have to shop for her music here because you are not going to hear her on the radio...she is just too good. When artists are beyond "categorizing," you really need to come to Amazon to score their music. So thank you Amazon, and thank you Mary Chapin Carpenter, for your graceful, peaceful and intelligent lyrics,and beautiful music.

I bought this as an afterthought, when I was already a fan of "Come On, Come On" and "Stones in the Road".

Carpenter's hunger for success as a songwriter is evident here. She doesn't hesitate to pull out all the stops and play games with our ears and our emotions to do the job. The vocals and the guitar work in particular succeed in evoking emotions.

But the album is authentic and personal as well. The production and the instrument choices are simple. The mood ranges from nostalgic to remorseful to joyful, and the lyrics never follow a formula.

I listen to this one a lot.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's CD "Hometown Girl" is really good. Many sweet songs and nice melodies. I can give this CD my best recommendation.

Not the country most people expect from Mary chapin Carpenter. This album is full of folk (or at least folk-style) music from one of the best female artists of the 90s. Don't let the genre turn you away. This is the same high quality music you've come to expect from Carpenter. I'd rate it A++!

I own all of Mary's albums and can't wait to receive her new one "Between here and now" when it is released next week. I had not listened to "Hometown Girl", her debut, for some time and after having played it last night was taken aback again at how brilliant and touching Mary's lyrics and melodies are. Mary is an incredible artist and this is clearly evidenced in this, her debut. My particular favourite track is "Just Because"...It is just so moving. I have been fortunate to see Mary in concert in the UK and can't wait to see her again.

I was very pleased with the service I received and the music is very good.

Good quality and many of the songs I have heared on the radio.

"This Shirt" - the mere lyrical content to this song can bring tears to my eyes - that's how good it is!

10,000 miles - quite simply "beautiful" - the ultimate song.

The songs on this album range from down-home country (Shut Up and Kiss Me, I Feel Lucky) to introspective folky (Stones in the Road)to just plain good-time toe-tapping fun (Down at the Twist and Shout). My personal favorite is the lush and gorgeous 10,000 miles, a long, generous and heartfelt wave of emotion set to music. It is truly a masterwork, the kind of recording that only a very few of the most gifted artists could ever construct. This song alone puts Mary Chapin Carpenter into the elite league of All-Time Greats, be it folk or country. But there's much more! Ms Carpenter is not content to be a fabulous singer and songwriter; she's obviously compelled by a powerful innerspring of talent and humanity to new horizons of discovery for her -- and, because she is so perceptive and talented -- for us. This ain't cookie-cutter music, folks. This is the REAL thing. For anyone who's tired of playlists and me-too musicians, Mary Chapin Carpenter is a gust of the highly-charged clear breeze that follows a thunderstorm and lights up your lungs, eyes and heart -- and has echoes of the storm that preceded it. Are there gripes about this music? Only if you don't like emotion, feeling and involvement. This is class A-plus music top to bottom, from an A-class artist. Party Doll was my first CD from this brilliant musician, but I'm rapidly buying the rest of her collection, and haven't been disappointed yet. I doubt that you'll be either. Love you, Mary.

I was only casually aquainted with Mary Chapin Carpenter's music before picking up this album. The hits I knew were all here, and so was a lot more material I have come to love as well. I was a bit leery that "Down at the Twist and Shout" was a live version from the Super Bowl; this song was the primary reason I wanted a MCC album, and I was concerned a live version recorded in a stadium during the Super Bowl might be of inferior recording quality. But I needn't have worried, the sound is great, and the performance is energetic and fun, with a verse in Creole thrown in for good measure. "This Shirt" is probably my favorite track I was unfamiliar with, but the entire album is quality; there are very few 17-track albums by any artist where I can say I enjoyed every song. I now look forward to exploring her original albums. I highly recommend this album to anyone looking for an introduction to this great artist.

I have been listening to MCC for years. In fact we were at a venue in Alexandria, VA the night she said she was quitting her day job! Everyone I've introduced to her music not only loved it, but purchased her music. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I already have all this music on other albums. One of the great things about her is that you can always understand what she is saying and and she has some great stories to tell.