Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas

by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Overview

"The same old stories, same old songs/We dust them off when Christmas comes," Mary Chapin Carpenter sings in "Christmas Carol," a song she wrote for her first holiday album, Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas, and while the line resonates in context, it also stands out because it sums up what Carpenter has chosen not to do with this disc. While Christmas albums tend to be dominated by cheerful but rote interpretations of holiday favorites, especially from artists with a history on the country charts, Carpenter wrote or co-wrote six new songs for Come Darkness, Come Light, and though there are three traditional numbers on the album, the usual suspects such as "White Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" are conspicuous in their absence. Come Darkness, Come Light instead focuses on the more thoughtful and spiritual side of the season -- "Bells Are Ringing" ponders symbols of faith in a chaotic world, "Christmas Carol" records the thoughts of a casual believer who is more concerned with Peace on Earth than the trappings of the Yuletide season, and "Christmas Time in the City" tells a fable of a street musician struggling to make a few bucks during the shopping season. Come Darkness, Come Light is the rare Christmas album that's made with thinking adults in mind, and Carpenter and co-producer John Jennings weren't afraid to make a record that's as thoughtful in its music as its lyrics; the arrangements are spare and tasteful, conveying the beauty of the melodies without cluttering them with gingerbread, and Carpenter's vocals are heartfelt without sounding histrionic, reflecting the inward contemplation that's a clear part of this music. Come Darkness, Come Light is a brave and beautiful collection of songs that dares to run counter to what most folks expect from a Christmas album, and it asks some questions worth pondering about the meaning behind the annual celebration while mirroring the simple joys of a snowy night. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/30/2008
Label:	Rounder Select / Zoe / New Rounder
UPC:	0601143112324
Rank:	199893

Tracks

1. Once In Royal David's City
2. Hot Buttered Rum
3. Still, Still, Still
4. On a Quiet Christmas Morn
5. Come Darkness, Come Light
6. Christmas Time In the City
7. Candlelight Carol
8. The Longest Night of the Year
9. Thanksgiving Song
10. Bells Are Rining
11. Christmas Carol
12. Children, Go Where I Send Thee

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mary Chapin Carpenter   Primary Artist,Vocals,Cadenza,Guitar (Acoustic)
John Jennings   Bass,Drums,Piano,Accordion,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Jon Carroll   Piano
John Carroll   Piano

Technical Credits

Carla Sacks   Publicity
John Jennings   Mixing,Harmony,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Audio Production
Robin Williams   Composer
John Rutter   Composer
Linda Williams   Composer
Mary Chapin Carpenter   Harmony,Composer,Producer,Photography,Audio Production
Henry John Gauntlett   Composer
Charles Thompson   Composer
Cecil Frances Alexander   Composer
Sarah Lainie Radawich   Cover Design
Traditional   Composer
Charlie Pilzer   Mastering