...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.