The Background:The Age of Miracles is the 3rd Zoe/Rounder release from world renowned singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter. The album has been a work in progress since 2007and is a personal exploration of regret and resilience but also a larger, more universal expression of wonder at the times we are living in. Carpenter is backed by a band that includes Matt Rollings (piano, B-3 organ), Russ Kunkel (drums), Duke Levine (electric and acoustic guitar), Glenn Worf (bass), Dan Dugmore (steel and 12 string guitar) and Eric Darken (percussion). It also features guest vocals by Vince Gill and Alison Krauss.
The Review:
Even as Mary Chapin Carpenter was pumping out consecutive hits on the country music charts during the 1990’s, it was always evident that the singer/songwriter was doing it differently than the other mainstream artists. At that point in time, it was done with equal parts mainstream and intelligence. But after she gained the artistic freedom she desired after her early success, she leaned more mellow and folk while never abandoning that book-smart songwriting ability that put her on top in the beginning. On The Age of Miracles, has returned back a little to her roots of country music- musically and sonically, at least- while still being as literate as ever. Carpenter is like your favorite college professor, challenging you to keep up while making yourself grateful that your having the opportunity to sit in her class. There’s more percussion on The Age of Miracles and the mood is decidedly more upbeat than her last three albums. "I Put My Ring Back On" is an true story and moving testimony of the challenges of marriage and overcoming relationship strifes. "I Have a Need for Solitude" is a quiet introspective look in finding love within completely on one's own terms. The two best tracks, however, are historical storytelling at its best. "Mrs. Hemingway" is a beautiful story of the original Mrs. Hemingway and her story of travelling to Paris with her husband and surviving on nearly nothing but their love for one-another and the romance of the city. "4 June, 1989," told from the perspective of a young Chinese soldier ordered to clear the protesters from Tiananmen Square, is a powerful new perspective on a well-known tragedy. Not too many songs make you stop what you’re doing and go research the song topic and learn more- but Carpenter’s story on the Tiananmen Square massacre did just that. Mary Chapin Carpenter picked the perfect title for her album. The title track, “The Age of Miracles” waxes poetically about the mysteries of love, fate, imagination, life and the world- and that’s just not heard from today’s country songwriters very often. It’s a great album with five truly outstanding songs on it that easily could make any year-end list.
Track Highlights:
Mrs. Hemingway
I Put My Ring Back On
The Age of Miracles
4 June 1989
Zephyr
Sounds Like:
The closest thing she’s had to 1996’s Come On, Come On
The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five
No comments:
Post a Comment