Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Things That We Are Made Of

Rating: 5/5

Review: 
A very fine album

Mary Chapin Carpenter is one of the greats and, on this evidence, she's still got it - this is a very fine album.

Mary's voice remains solid and true, with that slightly husky, weary tone fitting this material beautifully.  It's an album of contemplative, often slightly melancholy songs reflecting on aging and where life washes us up.  The Middle Ages, for example, is a fine portrait of an empty life filled by being "busy," and the incredibly poignant Note On A Windshield is a song about possibly recognising someone from long ago and what it stirs up – done with allusion and delicacy so that nothing is really explained but the emotion is brilliantly conveyed.  There are also songs of enduring love and contentment, and it's all done with intelligent, evocative lyrics and fine musical creation.

The style is sort of at the Country/Americana border, with good tunes and excellent arrangements.  The production is by the excellent Dave Cobb (who did such a fantastic job on Jason Isbell's masterpiece Southeastern, among other things) and it's perfect, I think, allowing the songs to glow without overlaying them with too much gloss.

I think this is a little bit of real class.  It's an album of fine songs from one of the finest singer-songwriters of the last few decades, exceptionally well performed and well produced.  What more could you want?  Very warmly recommended.