Mary Chapin Carpenter looks inward and outward on The Calling, a baker’s dozen of original songs that is her first new album in three years. At 49, she’s still on a quest for a place in the world, to borrow an earlier album title, be it on a personal, political or spiritual level.
Carpenter continues to bring a philosophical and literary approach to her blend of folk, country and rock. The title track examines the motivations for pursuing one’s path in life and the line between self-assurance and doubt. “On And On It Goes” quotes from “Death Of A Salesman” (“Attention must be paid”). She displays a topical edge on “Houston”, a song inspired by the plight of evacuees leaving Katrina-stricken New Orleans for the Texas city. “Now did you ever hear of nightmares coming in the light of day/Once we get to Houston maybe they’ll just wash away,” she sings.
“On With The Song”, dedicated to the Dixie Chicks, is the most outspoken number Carpenter has ever recorded. It’s a sharp rebuke to the president, the handling of the war in Iraq, and the far right as she offers support to those challenging the status quo. “This is for the ones who stand their ground/When the lines in the sand get deeper/When the whole world seems to be upside down/And the shots being taken get cheaper.”
Carpenter switches the mood from clamorous to amorous on “Twilight” and “Closer And Closer Apart” as she explores the politics of the heart. The Calling is a recognition that to change the world, you have to start with yourself.
