Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

What am I doing? The introduction’s here.

Track 1: We Traveled So Far
In addition to a great way to start off the album, this is also a great wedding first-dance song. There’s a comfortable swaying back and forth rhythm, which is perfect for a romantic slow dance. The words reflect the struggles of two people to reach this place. It’s I in the first verse, You in the second verse, and We in the third verse.

Favorite lines:

And you with the blue in your eyes
The storms of life leave a few lines

It’s worth it all learning at last
The future begins with the past

Track 2: Zephyr
And we move from something very grounded to something very free. This one is about wanting to fly. The speaker (singer?) compares him/herself to a zephyr and tries to explain the need to untether. The relationship is still there but locking down a person who flies is not the way to keep him/her.

The opening of this song is essentially the same as those of We Traveled So Far except We Traveled asked why “some go and some stay,” while Zephyr admits that

I don’t know nothing, nothing today
Whether to leave or to stay

I like that inclusion of oneself within the universal because isn’t that really the truth? If I knew why I did something, I would be closer to knowing why others do the same.

There is a really fine bridge in this song:

All of the wings I’ve ridden back home to you
All the things I’ve given I’ve wanted to
All that you see has always belonged to you
Except for the wind…

Yes, the wind is just a better way of saying me.

Mary Chapin Carpenter uses the word yar in this song. Ever since I first learned it in the movie High Society (Sorry, I did see that one before The Philadelphia Story), I’ve loved that word. It made me so happy to hear it here.

Track 3: I Put My Ring Back On
I wasn’t that enamored with the somewhat sentimental subject matter at first, but this song has really grown on me. First, it is the catchiest song on the album, and I keep humming and humming it. Second, it’s always a pleasure to hear Vince Gill, who sings a beautiful harmony. Third, MCC has a way of making very simple ideas very adult (as in grown-up, see I Want To Be Your Girlfriend). And lastly, what great lines:

And love wounds with such simplicity

And your kiss remembers the mystery

Other posts in this series

• Introduction
• Tracks 4-6
• Tracks 7-9
• Tracks 10-12

Tags: Music by Ms. SP
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Since there’s no Doctor Who this week, I’m going to cover a CD that I just haven’t been able to stop playing. The Age of Miracles is the newest album by Mary Chapin Carpenter, who is the artist of my life.

By this, I mean that she’s been meaningful and relevant to me for the longest time out of all the musicians that I adore. She was with me as I transitioned from high school to college, college into the adult world, and then the adult world into whatever the heck this is now. She got me through house-cleaning Sundays, gloriously long road trips as well as soul-sucking disillusionments.

Oh, our relationship has not been consistent. She hasn’t even remained my favorite artist of the moment through all our years together.

I found her during her literate yet radio-friendly days. Then as she and her music matured, she lost me for a little while as I yearned for the upbeat tempos and relationship angsts of the past. While I continued to buy the albums, attend the concerts, and bow to the pure poetry in songs that she always produces, I just didn’t feel that I was at a personal-achievement level capable of connecting fully with her messages.

Now, something must have changed. The Age of Miracles is such an amazingly complete album from beginning to end. I feel that this is her best CD since the acclaimed Stones in the Road. I’ve loved loved loved other songs off of other albums, but as a complete work, I haven’t played Miracles on shuffle once. It seems constructed to be listened to as is.

Once upon a time, I would have been impatient with the lack of tempo here. Now, I can feel the separations and differences between each song. I like the way they flow into each other. And with the way the tracks are ordered, there is constant movement within the album.

The first song, We Traveled So Far, starts off

I found myself wondering today
Why do some go and some stay

And the album follows that thought. The songs move between the earthly, the solid—and the aerie freedoms of flight. Mary Chapin Carpenter started writing these songs shortly after a near death health scare, and the contemplations coming out of that experience are present as well.

Musically, there are plenty of melodies and lines that stick in my head. There are some really strong bridges within this collection too, and that is not something I think I’ve recognized in her writing before.

I plan to go through the songs on this album in some future posts so hopefully I’ll provide some strong examples of why I love this album so much. It really is a glorious work.

Other posts in this series

• Tracks 1-3
• Tracks 4-6
• Tracks 7-9
• Tracks 10-12

Tags: Music by Ms. SP
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Last Sunday, I saw the second show of the Patty Larkin/Cheryl Wheeler double bill at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

First, if you haven’t been there, this Lincoln Square venue is a fabulous place for music. It’s comfortable, lovely, intimate, and the sound is amazing. I know there is amplification, but when you stare at a source onstage, it usually appears as if the sound is coming from that vocalist or instrument.

It seems that the format for the 7:30 show changed from that of the 4:00 show. Here, Cheryl Wheeler came on first for an approximately 30 minute set. Then it was Patty’s turn. After a break, the two shared the stage together to trade songs.

I’ve seen Cheryl Wheeler in concert before but for the last couple of events, she’s been under the weather. This was the first concert in a while that I’ve heard her voice sound so good.

It seemed like the crowd was more familiar with Patty Larkin than Cheryl Wheeler at this particular show so I was glad that there seemed to be some new and appreciative fans gained this night.

I had intended to purchase Cheryl’s latest CD, Pointing at the Sun, here but all her CDs sold out during the earlier show.

This was my first Patty Larkin concert, and her guitar skills are every bit as impressive as they are reputed to be. I was also pleasantly surprised by her sense of humor. I’ve come to expect the funny from Cheryl Wheeler, but the way that Cheryl is able to get the crowd with her sometimes leave other performers uncomfortable and overshadowed. I’m glad to say that this did not happen to Patty. She certainly held her own.

As an artist, there are a lot of Patty Larkin songs that I appreciate and like (My favorite is probably Pundits & Poets.), but overall, she just doesn’t speak to me as much as Cheryl Wheeler’s music does.

I was glad that they seemed to be fans of each other though. It was certainly an enjoyable night for me.

Tags: Music by Ms. SP
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