Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful, thoughtful Christmas album - Recommended, 19 Nov 2008
I haven't been a particular fan of Mary Chapin Carpenter in the past but this album of Christmas songs is a real gem. It is really different to your usual "Jingle Bells" and "White Christmas" festive fare, although there are traditional songs in this collection such as the lovely "Once in Royal David's City" which opens the album, and the absolutely gorgeous performance of "Children Go Where I Send Thee". The rest of the material is new (at least to me, although I understand that a couple of tracks were included on an earlier Mary Chapin Carpenter album)and it is wonderful. The lyrics are thoughtful and really do get to the heart of what Christmas is like (and what it should be about) in 2008. Some of these reflect the spiritual side of Christmas, and, cleverly at the same time, also mirror the hustle and bustle of a modern Christmas in a western industrialised nation ("Christmas Time in the City" is wonderful!) and there is a touch of Christmas romance too. The performances by Chapin Carpenter are really superb, that wonderful deep alto voice really putting meaning and wonderful expression into every note. The musical accompaniment is quite simple country fare, nothing techno here, and it suits the material perfectly.
If you are looking for some Christmas music but want something a bit more reflective, and just a bit different, then you really should buy this album straight away. There is proper Christmas feeling here but it is done with real class and subtlety. I haven't been able to stop playing it since I got it and I have a feeling it will be revisted regularly throughout the year and not just at Christmas.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mary Chapin Carpenter At Her Very Best, 8 Dec 2008
I was a big fan of Mary's earlier albums such as 'Come On Come On' and 'Stones In The Road' but have to admit my interest waned somewhat until 2004's excellent 'Between Here and Gone' which I considered a real return to form. I'm pleased to say this latest outing continues in much the same vein with the emphasis on heart felt ballads which I've always preferred to her more uptempo country rock numbers.
The mood is laid back and as comforting as a raging log fire on a winter's night. Mary is a great story teller, with each of the 12 songs painting pictures of snowy landscapes and childood Christmas memories.
"I really don't remember much of Christmas growing up, except the year the Beatles came to play on my record player that came from Sears. That White Album filled my ears in 1968 on Christmas Day" sings Mary on a ' Christmas Carol'.
Highlights include the title track, 'Come Darkness, Come Light', 'On A Quiet Christmas Morn' and John Rutter's 'Candlelight Carol' - truly sublime.
If you are a fan of singer songwriters and want something different from the usual Christmas fare that is churned out year after year then this is the album for you. The best stocking filler you could buy someone this year.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely collection of thoughtful songs for the festive season, 18 Dec 2008
This is a lovely, reflective and thoughtful Christmas album from Mary Chapin Carpenter, far removed from the jingle-jangle razzmatazz that can so blight the festive season.
Mary's understated but heartful readings truly complement this collection of mostly new songs, and are in complete contrast to the strident over-emoting of so many of today's female singers. Four songs including the title track were written by Mary, with a further two co-written with the ever-dependable John Jennings. Two familiar though not currently over-exposed traditional songs bookend the album, and I particularly liked this version of John Rutter's Candlelight Carol. The title track and Hot Buttered Rum (oh, yes please!) are other favourites for me, but really there are no misses here. The arrangements are in keeping with the overall mood of the album, enhanced by some lovely, simple piano touches on, for example, the above-mentioned Come Darkness, Come Light, Hot Buttered Rum, On A Quiet Christmas Morn and Thanksgiving Song.
Whether you are familiar with Mary's other albums and are wondering about this one, or are looking for something that reflects the less commercial side of Christmas, this could be for you. I can highly recommend it.
You could also find that Sarah McLachlan's beautiful album Wintersong is also well worth checking out.
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