My favorite album without a doubt...

Subject: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 08:32 PM

...is a superb album made by Mary Chapin Carpenter in 2004. It's called "Between Here and Gone", and many of the songs touch on themes having to do with life, death, and our common mortality.

This is one of those albums where every single song on the entire disk is about as good as a song can possibly get...superb songwriting in every way. I've probably listened to it 40 or 50 times by now, never get tired of it, and usually play it when I'm working out on the ellyptical in the morning.

There are 3 songs that are absolute masterpieces:

"My Heaven" - too beautiful to describe

"Between Here and Gone" - thoughts on mortality

"Grand Central Station" - A wonderfully subtle and moving tribute to those who died in the 911 attacks and those who worked cleaning up the wreckage. No patriotic rabble-rousing here, no flag waving, no calls for war and vengeance, just compassion for those who died and those who had to pick up the pieces and carry on.

As for the other songs, they're all terrific.

I can't get over how good this album is, and how little attention it seems to have garnered from the music media (as far as I know). I think it may be the best album Mary Chapin Carpenter has ever made.

Unlike most of her earlier catalogue, this one was produced by Matt Rollings and Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was recorded in Nashville.

If you haven't heard it, give it a listen. As much as I like Mr Dylan (as you all know well)...THIS is my favorite album of them all, period.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 08:33 AM

My favorite album depends on my mood.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 09:04 AM

Saw her in Glasgow recently and was impressed. "Age of miracles" great too.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: oldhippie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 09:40 AM

"That's My Song" - Carolyn Hester

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: 12-stringer
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 06:34 PM

California Bloodlines

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:23 PM

I think it was called I chose the Green by Anne Byrne...mg

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:29 PM

I see that I did not title this thread correctly. ;-) Perhaps I should start the whole thing over again.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: Crowhugger
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 03:48 PM

I'm always amazed by people who have a lasting favourite of anything. Like Kendall, mine always changes...be it favourite album, colour, singer, dog breed, car, shade tree, you-name-it...

But I just LOVE the feeling of basking in my favourite whatever. I hope everyone in this thread is enjoying that pleasant sensation.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: akenaton
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:03 PM

I love eveything Mary does LH......your choice is fine for me, but I also have soft spots for "Hometown Girl" and everyones favourite "Stones in the road"
The sax bridge on John Doe always gets right through me.

For a song which can make your blood run cold by sheer emotion, there is none better than "Goodbye Again".

I would be interested to know why Mary is so neglected in the US...she never seems to get the appreciation that she deserves.
Is it because she doesn't play the celebrity game?

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:19 PM

One album, desert island, no chance of rescue, solar powered cd player and a mandolin...John Hartford's Aereo-plain no question. That lp completely changed my life, musically. It's still way out in front of anything else.

His song, 'They're Gonna Tear Down The Grand Ol' Opry' became a rallying cry that virtually saved the Ryman Auditorium. What a tragic loss that would've been.

He introduced the world to the genius of Vassar Clements, Tut Taylor, Norman Blake and Randy Scruggs.

"Way up on the hill where they do-do the boogie
eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh the boogie
Wonder what they're doin' when they do do the boogie?
and I wonder what I'm doin' here?"

RIP, John Your LP is still my favorite.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: akenaton
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:19 PM

and I make no apologies for posting this againI am a town

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:49 PM

Another masterwork, Akenaton. She is the songwriter's songwriter.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: David C. Carter
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 06:28 AM

This is going to be my first buy for this year.

Thanks LH and akenaton.

Have a good new year

David

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 06:42 AM

I'm with Crowhugger....my favourite album changes frequently. I'll play something to death for days or weeks and then move on to something else. And the style changes too....could be folk today, 70s prog-rock next week and contemporary indie next month.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 08:44 AM

Just had a listen to My Heaven, what a good song, anyone got chords?

Most enjoyable albums I've listened to, have two choices, first one I bough, Good N'Country, 10 great old honky tonk songs by Jim Reeves, and Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg & Wilco featuring Natalie Merchant, is superb quality all the way through

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 08:57 AM

Two favorites:
Kendall's Beginner's Luck. Phoebe Snow and Ashes on the Sea always make me teary.

Fisherman's Wife by Shipping News

and Hissyfit's first album
and John Robert's Sea Fever
and the Paton's "ring' series...and
and...guess it depends

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 09:26 AM

akenaton:

Has an opportunity to see MCC, Emmylou, Steve Earle and Nanci Grffith all in a 'songwriter's round' w/a supporting ensemble of string bass, multi-instrument wizard and light percussion. MCC was clearly head and shoulders above a collection of greats. Unbelievable songwriting. No apology necessary.

Subject: RE: My favorite album without a doubt...
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 04:38 PM

Jeff....Thanks for that:0)....I really appreciate it.

The song I linked to, is more than a beautiful anthem, but a pointer to what the US could still be.....a loving portrait of "Middle America"....all the stuff which makes your country still the only hope for this world.
The kindness in the heart.....the "good" side of naivety.....the straightforwardness of manner, that the rest of us have moved away from. Thanks to people like Mary you folks still have your soul...ours is lost, covered in the rubble of education and cynicism

I'm a Scot, but can empathise with what Mary writes, although referring to things American, her sentiments are truly international....Ake