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Review
Country/folk icon and multiple Grammy-winner Mary Chapin Carpenter describes her latest album as “about grief and loss”. In recent years she’s experienced divorce, serious illness and the death of her father, the accumulative trauma of which hurled her into depression.
A hard-hearted person might observe that the accompanying biography reads like a parody of country singers’ inspirations. But Ashes and Roses is certainly no summer breeze.
There’s a hint of respite from the gloom when James Taylor duets on the easy-flowing Soul Companion, but as his and Carpenter’s voices sound so similar, it’s barely a contrast. So this subdued album – more acoustic than her break-out hits – focuses on confessional lyrics and humble, understated vocals.
Recorded in Nashville, Ashes and Roses is produced by Carpenter’s regular collaborator Matt Rollings. On closer Jericho, just her voice and Rollings’ piano are present, as if all elaboration is now deemed superfluous and only the tattered scraps of residual emotion resonate for her.
Theoretically there’s an arc, a journey of healing, and songs like New Year’s Day and Fading Away offer glimmers of optimism, albeit the kind that quote Emily Dickinson. Any epiphany or upswing, however, is relative. From Transcendental Reunion – which eulogises, oddly, the restorative powers of a flight into Heathrow – the tone is set.
What to Keep And What to Throw Away is a candid meditation on her decision to “burn all the letters, delete all the photos” so that nothing reminds her of her ex. The Swords We Carried is another brutal analysis of the aftermath of love. Elsewhere, there are studies of mourning, nostalgia for childhood and the quest for a place to call home.
Like Cowboy Junkies, Carpenter believes that the quieter she sings the clearer her angst will get across. But whereas that Canadian outfit value leavening humour, she places faith in unremitting earnestness. It’s often affecting, and draws you in at times, but somewhat smothering in its unrelenting glumness. There’s also a paucity of fresh melodies here.
This profoundly personal album is unlikely to woo passers-by, but loyal, long-time admirers will adore it.
--Chris Parkin
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like her near contemporary Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter writes highly literate songs that are odes to introspection, confession, catharsis and loss. In 2007 she suffered a pulmonary embolism, her father died and she went through a divorce. The album seems to be a reflection upon those troubled times.
It is a gentle, mainly acoustic, work and she uses the voice and phrasing of a folk singer to explore the darker corners of the soul. As she explains in "The Swords We Carried"
"And grief became my company, pain so deep I could not breathe,
All betrayal is like dying in slow motion".
In "Chasing What's Already Gone" her father appears in a dream to tell her "You're gonna be alright", but she felt as empty as she'd ever been:
"Ashes and roses and hearts that break
I tried so hard to be strong
But maybe my worries were not my first mistake
I'm chasing what's already gone".
The lyrics are illuminated by a magical arrangement of Hammond B3, mandolin, acoustic guitars and piano. But as well as the lyrical content this is also an album of exquisite melodies and deliberately understated arrangements. A simple piano accompaniment on "Jericho" from producer Sonny Rollings is perfect as she confides:
"And you can't hear me yet, listening takes a long, long time,
And I've so much to tell, but words die on these lips of mine".
Lyrics, melody and musicianship combine beautifully in "I Tried Going West":
"A letter a day I wrote back to you
But not one you ever received
'cause I can't stand the man that lies like you do
And I can't bear a woman who bleeds".
Because Mary's voice is so intrinsic to the spirit of the self penned songs the duet with James Taylor on "Soul Companion" doesn't contribute as much to the album as perhaps it should. But that is a minor quibble about an album that is a combination of lyrical and musical perfection.
It is a gentle, mainly acoustic, work and she uses the voice and phrasing of a folk singer to explore the darker corners of the soul. As she explains in "The Swords We Carried"
"And grief became my company, pain so deep I could not breathe,
All betrayal is like dying in slow motion".
In "Chasing What's Already Gone" her father appears in a dream to tell her "You're gonna be alright", but she felt as empty as she'd ever been:
"Ashes and roses and hearts that break
I tried so hard to be strong
But maybe my worries were not my first mistake
I'm chasing what's already gone".
The lyrics are illuminated by a magical arrangement of Hammond B3, mandolin, acoustic guitars and piano. But as well as the lyrical content this is also an album of exquisite melodies and deliberately understated arrangements. A simple piano accompaniment on "Jericho" from producer Sonny Rollings is perfect as she confides:
"And you can't hear me yet, listening takes a long, long time,
And I've so much to tell, but words die on these lips of mine".
Lyrics, melody and musicianship combine beautifully in "I Tried Going West":
"A letter a day I wrote back to you
But not one you ever received
'cause I can't stand the man that lies like you do
And I can't bear a woman who bleeds".
Because Mary's voice is so intrinsic to the spirit of the self penned songs the duet with James Taylor on "Soul Companion" doesn't contribute as much to the album as perhaps it should. But that is a minor quibble about an album that is a combination of lyrical and musical perfection.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have loved all of Mary's most recent albums from `Between Here And Gone' through to 2010's `Age Of Miracles' and this latest release doesn't disappoint. The album comprises mainly gentle, acoustic ballads which showcase perfectly Mary's talents as a singer and storyteller. I have to admit this one took a little longer than its predecessors to get under my skin but after several listens the melodies and lyrics really do shine through.
It's hard to pick a favourite track but the combination of Mary and James Taylor on `Soul Companion' is definitely a highlight along with the more upbeat opener 'Transcendal Reunion'.
Tasteful music, tastefully packaged for the discerning listener.
It's hard to pick a favourite track but the combination of Mary and James Taylor on `Soul Companion' is definitely a highlight along with the more upbeat opener 'Transcendal Reunion'.
Tasteful music, tastefully packaged for the discerning listener.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jeffers
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I find this new album by Mary Chapin Carpenter very moving, beautiful and poignant. it is a wonderfully crafted and produced album from a great song-writer. I had not really listened to Mary's songs before even though she had been recommended to me by others in the past. I tended to shy away from what I thought was 'country' music. However the title of Mary's album and my own personal life at this time seem to have searched each other out; hence a most wonderful discovery. I wholly recommend this album to all who like good, reflective song-writing, accoustically produced, written from the heart and soul of a lady with a beautiful voice. Ashes and Roses is my album of 2012.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not for manic depressives!
The BBC Review actually sums this cd up = "This profoundly personal album is unlikely to woo passers-by, but loyal, long-time admirers will adore it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gandalf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely
Just a gorgeous, lovely album. I was introduced to Mary's music many years ago when a friend gave me a copy of the 'Stones In The Road' album. I've loved her voice ever since. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
middle of the road
Not my sort of music but wife likes it and keeps her out of my way, and it was cheap
Published 1 month ago by Rw Armstrong
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ashes & Roses - Mary Chapin Carpenter.
I really loved this CD - it was gente, wistful and she has a lovely voice. Thanks for a beautiful CD
Published 2 months ago by lucinda haque
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bit maudlin
Some lovely tracks and the usual MCC fabulous voice but as an album its a bit maudlin, my wife says its a bit of a dirge.
Published 2 months ago by Chordcrasher
4.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Present
Arrived with the case a little scratched which isn't great.
But as far as I am aware the cd works well and the recipient is
happy with it, (I bought it for someones... Read more
But as far as I am aware the cd works well and the recipient is
happy with it, (I bought it for someones... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cleggie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album
What a lovely album. Would certainly recommend. Very easy listening whatever time of the day. Mary Chapin Carpenter is a true artist and performer.
Published 3 months ago by Caron Turner
4.0 out of 5 stars
Depth of voice
Beautiful words from someone who has touched grief , sadness , loss and the ravages of experiences and time. Well done Mary Chapin Carpenter
Published 4 months ago by Gill Profit
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another successful cd.
Yet another good selection of songs from this very talented singer/songwriter artist. Having seen Mary on most of her UK tours i am a great fan of her music and this cd lived up to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs Maureen Tett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
I bought this having read a review in a daily newspaper. Previously I had not heard of Mary. She has a wonderful melodious voice and her lyrics are, at times, very moving.
Published 5 months ago by Steve W
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