Mary Chapin Carpenter Album: “Time Sex Love”

As stated in the title *Time*Sex*Love* Mary Chapin Carpenter adresses themes that we can all relate to...growing up, growing apart, unfulfilled dreams, looking back with longing, all these are a common bond. At first listen, this did not set as easily on my ear, what was it? Finally, I figuredit out. The inclusion of more electric instruments(on some tracks)lends an unfamiliar sound. Unfamiliar, but not unwelcomed. What the listener gets is 14 tracks filled with outstanding song writing and tight musical arrangements. Standout tracks "This is Me Leaving You","Simple Life","Alone, but Not Lonely" and "Late For Your Life". This CD does not fit into the MCC mold, there is a change in tempo and musical instrumentation. What is unchanged is the rock solid songwriting and the insight into the human condition, top notch!

Mary Chapin Carpenter has produced a collection that could have been recorded in 1969; as an "old folkie" (as well as old fogie), I can relate to the sound and to the message, as well. Lovely vocals, a little country tinge to the folk rock music, the only jarring note is the giggling in one of the latter tracks, but that, too brings back memories of a more innocent age. Altogether, a trip back in time to when music and message were more important than marketing.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's first album since 1996's A PLACE IN THIS WORLD, TIME* SEX* LOVE* is a wonderful album. The album shows a reflective, somewhat sombre side of Carpenter. Not to say there are not the great upbeat songs fans love from MCC, like the Shawn Colvin like Whenever You're Ready, or the spirited This Is Me Leaving You and The Long Way Home. The beautifully written and sung songs like Alone But Not Lonely, What Was It Like, Swept Away, Someone Else's Prayer, The Dreaming Road, among the best will leave you breathless. The album deals with maturing and dealing with growing old, and relationships among many things. So kick back, have a glass of wine, sit by the fire and become "swept away" by this new album by Mary Chapin Carpenter, it's definately worth the wait between albums.

I have been a long time Mary Chapin Carpenter fan since "State of the Heart". Every time there is a new album from Mary I don't hesitate for a second and buy it right on the dot. I was disappointed with her '96 studio album "A Place In This World". I enjoyed her greatest hits collection "Doll Parts". But after being disappointed by "A Place In This World" I was afraid to buy her new album "Time, Sex, Love" and end up being disappointed. Luckily my fears were unfounded. Although it is no "Stones In the Road", "Time, Sex, Love" is certainly one of Mary's better albums to date. I was pleasantly surprised to see this album to go over an hour in length, which is not usual for a Mary Chapin Carpenter cd. The tone and mood of this album is more quiet and subdued than her previous albums but she does rock out with tracks like "The Long Way Home" and "In the Name of Love". Listening to "Slave to the Beauty" was like listening to "Stones In the Road" all over again. "Time, Sex, Love" clearly indicates why Mary Chapin Carpenter is one of my personal favorite artists of all time.

I think Robert Plant had things summed up pretty well when he was commenting about Led Zeppelin's third album. He noted that many fans had responded by asking (paraphrasing), "But where is our "Whole Lotta Love Parts II, III and IV?"

Time*Sex*Love* is not "Stones in the Road". Neither is it "Come On" nor is it "Shooting Straight in the Dark". It is also not any of the other fine works from this artist. It offers something different than what preceded it, although one can clearly hear some similarities to earlier material. (So for the folks who might be afraid that MCC's angelic voice may not even be recognizable, relax.)

Music evolves...artists change too. If that weren't the case, then pretty soon everything would begin to sound exactly the same and where's the fun in that?

Mary Chapin Carpenter is an excellent songwriter. She took some different approaches on this album (yes...they are still albums). Some people (at least one of whom thought it was time to respond to the "critics") think it's great when an artist tries new ideas. Others seem to think that an artist somehow "owes" it to the fans to simply repeat or reorganize the songs that have made the artist popular.

Time*Sex*Love* is very good music. It's enough that an artist of Mary Chapin Carpenter's skill and performing talent composes lyrics and music and then gets into a studio with other talented folks who can expand the basic idea into a work of art.

Thanks to MCC for having courage to try new ideas and making them work. I was really happy to find that the album (I cheated and used a CD) was not musically identical to any of the other MCC albums I own.

Where do I sign up to purchase more underappreciated music?