Mary Chapin Carpenter Album: “The Calling”

Mary Chapin is one of my favorite artists, and her Between Here And Gone is a very good CD. But it really didn't show all her sides, as it was quite ballad-oriented. On The Calling, she rocks out harder than ever while retaining her talent for painting portraits of the human condition and producing beautiful, folky melodies. Check out the amazing slide guitar on "We're All Right." "Houston" is a deep and heart wrenching look at the plight of Katrina evacuees. The only slight faults are "It Must Have Happened" and "Your Life Story" having similar (but strong, especially on "Your Life Story") riffs, and there aren't any fun songs like "Shut Up And Kiss Me." Republicans might want to skip "On With The Song," but it is nice that she did a song in support of the Dixie Chicks. I fully expect this CD to be on my best of 2007 list!

This happens every time MCC releases a cd. I listen to it and think that I do not like it. Then I put it in my car cd and listen to it again to and from work, and my opinion starts to change. By the time I get home from work the second trip, the songs are stuck to me like glue. I cannot get the beauty of Twilight out of my head, and I keep singing "Your Life Story" each day to myself at the candy machine. "Bright Morning Star" is such a hopeful song. " Houston" is my favorite in the bunch and to me there is not one miss. They are all gems with the exception of "Why Couldn't We" a sort of liberal anthem that just falls flat.

Carpenter continues to grow as an artist, a poet, a dreamer and a songsmith who is not content to have top 10 country hits, but uses her profound imagery to weave and tangle us all in a beautiful collection of songs from the heart. Some personal and others more political in nature, this is probably MCC's best cd to emerge. Unfortunately, due to health issues, MCC will not get to tour with this album, but we will have to wait until 2008 to see those songs delivered live.

I had the great pleasure of hearing MCC and John Jennings perform "Houston" a year ago at an evening of song and words featuring Ann LaMotte. It literally took my breath away, and I thought to myself "this is a true poet's response to this unimaginable human tragedy." Hearing the full arrangement on the new CD, I remember that evening's performance perfectly, but now I am struck at the deep empathy that MCC infuses this song with. To me this is the centerpiece of a magnificent project which shows that MCC continues to spin magic and beauty while riding the Bright Morning Star.

There are so few performers that you can count on for one brilliant release after another. You may prefer her earlier work, and yes, her last album is a bit of a downer, (so was Nebraska...good thing I didn't stop listening to Bruce after that one), but this is another combination of great writing and catchy tunes. Houston is so sad...like John Doe 24 for those who haven't listened since Stones. There are some rockers too, and the yahoos are screaming "America hater," so there's even more reason to love her. I downloaded this off iTunes, so if someone could please list the musicians she collaborated with on this, I'd appreciate it. I know Jennings and Rollings are there, and I'm guessing Glen Worf, but please fill me in if you can.

This CD will have a permanent place in my player and in my MP3 for years to come. MCC's voice is so soothing, her phrasing so perfect, and her lyrics so meaningful for these times. "Houston" is stuck in my head, and I am a little weepy at the moment. Its message that New Orleans will never be the same is quite a change from what we hear from other artists determined to be upbeat. And quite a stark contrast from Down at the Twist and Shout!

IMO Bright Morning Star is the weak spot on this album - not very tuneful, and not right for her voice. But I will definitely give it another try.

I never really got into Between Here and Gone. I will try it again. The Calling is simply MMC's best, and strong testament to the growth of a bright and literate singer/songwriter.