Mary Chapin Carpenter Album: “Shooting Straight in the Dark”

You heard "Going Out Tonight", "Down At The Twist And Shout" and "You Win Again" on the radio but you have to hear the rest of the album to hear some of Mary's finest songs ever. My two favorites are "Can't Take Love For Granted" (my all time favorite MCC song) and "Middle Ground" (my all time second favorite MCC song). The album has a variety of different song styles that blend perfectly. Rockers like "Right Now" and "Twist And Shout" will get you moving on your feet while "Halley Came To Jackson" sounds like a lulliby for adults as well as children. You won't go wrong with this album. I think it is her finest work to date and is even better than "Stones In The Road", another 5 star album by this very talented singer-songwriter. Buy it now!

"Shooting Straight in the Dark" is my third favorite MCC album. The songs are all incredibly catchy and fun to sing along. One of the first songs I have heard from Mary is from this album which is "You Win Again" (and the smash hit "Down at the Twist and Shout"). The infectious melodies and bittersweet lyrics were a perfect combination. I consider the infecious "Right Now" a precursor to "I Feel Lucky". It has that fun vibe that I hear in "I Feel Lucky" (despite the fact that I'm rather tired of that song). The production on "Shooting Straight in the Dark" is simply steller. John Jennings did a marvelous job at keeping a live performance vibe to this album as well as the other albums he produced with Mary. I think Mary's vocals are at her best when she rocks out like on songs such as "The More Things Change" and the cajun-influenced "Down At the Twist and Shout", a reminder that MCC isn't going to be restricted to the confines of traditional country music. On the softer side, I loved the gentle yet somber "When She's Gone" and "The Moon and St. Christopher". Despite my disdain for most country music, I will always enjoy Mary Chapin Carpenter's music.

Yet another winner for Mary Chapin Carpenter. The pain of losing(Going Out Tonight, What You Didn't Say) and loneliness(Middle Ground)are countered with the Cajun flavored Down Out At The Twist And Shout and the toe-tapping Right Now. The result surpasses her previous efforts.

I first heard "You Win Again" performed on "Austin City Limits" in 1993, and I was instantly hooked on MC-2's gift for music. Her work on this album, along with phenomenal guitarist John Jennings, represents some of the finest "Pure Americana" music available.

My mom had this cd and I borrowed it so much,she looked at me and told me that I might as well have it ( then she gave me a smile). I love this album so much it speaks right to me,I would absolutely recommend this one to anyone that loves music as much as I do