Time* Sex* Love*

by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Overview

The asterisks following the words in the title to Mary Chapin Carpenter's seventh album of new material, Time* Sex* Love*, hide more words: the full title is "Time Is the Great Gift; Sex Is the Great Equalizer; Love Is the Great Mystery." If that sounds a bit overdone, it accurately introduces a collection given over to big statements. After four and a half years, Carpenter weighs in with a 73-plus-minute disc that thoughtfully examines important issues. Songs like "Simple Life" and "Maybe the World" take on the uncertainty of life at midstream, a subject also addressed in specifically careerist terms in "The Long Way Home" and philosophically in "Late for Your Life." But if that's the "time" part of the record, "sex" and "love" take primary place. Simply put, the better part of the album consists of torch songs that depict romantic and sexual obsession. Titles like "Swept Away" and "Slave to the Beauty" reveal the theme, and even attempted recoveries like "This Is Me Leaving You" reinforce it. The narrator of that song sounds like she'd be happier singing, "This is me crawling back to you." Working against the theme are the musical elements. Recording in Sir George Martin's Air Studios, Carpenter harks back to the Beatles' Rubber Soul for the album's sound, which lightens the mood. And her singing never supports the victimization in her lyrics, always maintaining its calm, murmuring tone. But the point is unmistakable. It's hard to see what any of this has to do with country radio, which, in any case, has been increasingly resistant to Carpenter. This album may not be a country blockbuster, ending the sleight of hand by which an artist who is essentially a folk-rock singer/songwriter has succeeded in Nashville, but it is a mature examination of life and love. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	08/04/2009
Label:	Sony Music Distribution / Sony Bmg / Sony Music
UPC:	0886974929727

Tracks

1. Whenever You're Ready
2. Simple Life
3. Swept Away
4. Slave to the Beauty
5. Maybe World
6. What Was It Like
7. King of Love
8. This Is Me Leaving You
9. Someone Else's Prayer
10. The Dreaming Road
11. Alone But Not Lonely
12. The Long Way Home
13. In the Name of Love
14. Going Home

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mary Chapin Carpenter   Primary Artist,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Dave Mattacks   Guest Artist,Drums,Percussion
Duke Levine   Mandola,Slide Guitar,Sitar (Electric),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Electric)
John Jennings   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Baritone),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Electric Baritone),Guitar (12 String Electric),Guitar,Percussion,Tambourine,Slide Guitar,Vocal Harmony,Clevenger Bass,Hi String Guitar
Jon Carroll   Piano,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background)
Peter Lale   Viola
Rita Manning   Violin
Patrick Kiernan   Violin
Nick Ingman   Conductor
Steve Nathan   Piano,Synthesizer
Garrison Starr   Vocals (Background)
Tony Pleeth   Cello
Michael Thompson   French Horn
Isobel Griffiths   Conductor
Glenn Worf   Bass,Fretless Bass,Clevenger Bass
Bruce White   Viola
Gavyn Wright   Violin
Boguslav Kostecki   Violin
David Daniels   Cello

Technical Credits

Mary Chapin Carpenter   Composer,Producer
Blake Chancey   Producer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band   Art Direction
Chris Barrett   Production Assistant
Nick Ingman   Arranger,String Arrangements
Kim Richey   Composer
John Jennings   Composer,Producer,Programming
George Massenburg   Mixing,Engineer,Photography
Tracy Baskette-Fleaner   Art Direction
Maria Smoot   Make-Up,Hair Stylist
Mary-Beth Aungier   Photography,Production Coordination
Pamela Springsteen   Photography
Ricky Graham   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Michael Hiatt   A&R
Kay Smith   A&R
Jenny Rosato   Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Deb Castle   Production Coordination
Bob Dawson   Engineer
Jim Robeson   Engineer
Isobel Griffiths   Arranger,Contractor
Gary Burr   Composer
Tony Castle   Engineer