Ashes And Roses

LIGHT COUNTRY POP. What’s to say? It’s Mary Chapin Carpenter: a 25-year career, millions of albums sold, multiple Grammy awards… an archetype of the pleasant sounding, folkie or slightly countryish, singer-songwriter. Good songs, good singing, good accompaniment by first-rate session players, but nothing especially innovative or exciting.

No FCC issues.

1 ** Mid-tempo. Nice melody; particularly good, deep, full-voiced singing. Airport arrival as metaphor for life is stretched a bit far, but a very good song nonetheless. (4:48)
2 ** Mid-tempo. Low, rich voice. Nice layered guitars, a touch of synth, steady bass & drums. Cleaning out her closet & straightening out her life. (4:35)
3 Slow. Wistful, sad, reflective. Mainly acoustic, with a piano bridge. A bit dreary. (4:07)
4 Mid-slow. Dreamy, folkie ballad. Mellow acoustic & elec guitars, piano, organ. (4:30)
5 * Mid-tempo. Americana (slightly country) ballad. A hint of pedal steel, nice piano. (5:00)
6 * Mid-slow. A good folk ballad. Pretty acoustic guitar. Low, smoky singing. (4:30)
7 Mid-tempo, 3/4 sway. An “on the road” song. Produced bigger & grander than the rest with electric guitars, accordion, etc. Sounds like it was meant to be the radio hit. (4:17)
8 * Mid-tempo. Classic singer-songwriter folk. Stripped down almost to just voice and acoustic guitar with just a hint of the electric instruments. Very good vocal. (4:24)
9 Mid-tempo. Peppy duet w James Taylor whose singing, as always, is perfect. But the song is trite, predictable, and over produced. Like something on a PBS oldies program. (4:02)
10 Mid-slow. Folkie. Mainly acoustic guitar & deep, smoky voice, with gentle accompaniment by the band. I liked #8 more. (4:46)
11 Mid-tempo. Another bit of Americana story telling. Good singing. Not a bad song. (4:55)
12 Mid-slow. A sad, mellow, folkish ballad. Good, but it doesn’t stand out. (4:21)
13 * Slow love song. Exceptional vocal accompanied only by piano and bass. (4:04)