Product Description

With STONES IN THE ROAD, Mary-Chapin Carpenter secures her title as country music's most successful anomaly. The formerIvy-League folkie has succeeded in creating a hit album that has virtually none of the attributes generally accepted as"country" music. And that is good news for both Mary-Chapinand country music; their audience has expanded beyond Opryland.
From the flowing piano intro on "Why Walk When You Can Fly" to Carpenter's dramatic cabaret/pop reading of "Where Time Stands Still", the listener journeys through a multi-genre world of loss, love, discovery, and eventual triumph. Her vocals are deceptively tough, rich, and passionate, especially in "House Of Cards" and "Last Word".
More deeply reflective than previous albums, STONES still has fun. "Shut Up And Kiss Me" is a playful and sexy romp, with hooks galore. The album's centrepiece, "John Doe No. 24", a contemplative ballad based on a nameless mute's obituary, is framed by Branford Marsalis' ethereal saxophone.
The razor-sharp insights of Mary-Chapin are plentiful throughout this literatealbum which not only expands the boundaries of country music, it explodes them into glittery STONES IN THE ROAD.

Track Listing

1. Why Walk When You Can Fly
2. House Of Cards
3. Stones In The Road
4. Keeper For Every Flame
5. Tender When I Want To Be
6. Shut Up And Kiss Me
7. Last Word
8. End Of My Pirate Days
9. John Doe No 24
10. Jubilee
11. Outside Looking In
12. Where Time Stands Still
13. This Is Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16061 in Music
• Released on: 1998-07-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The 1994 sequel to her mainstream country breakthrough on Come on Come On further underscores Mary Chapin Carpenter's true identity, more Ivy League folk rocker than new country cowgirl. Her coolly delivered, deeply felt songs include meditations on family, community and social injustice without rant or cant, never more so than on the gently incisive midlife reflections of the title song, which filters historic milestones and childhood lessons through its delicate verses. Elsewhere, she sketches a heart-breaking, restrained speculation on the inner life of a blind, deaf mystery man ("John Doe No. 24") with the economy and detail of good short story. The set's many love songs are no less intelligent, emotionally authentic or moving. Chapin Carpenter's elegant yet earthy alto is beautifully framed in the settings, coproduced with longtime collaborator John Jennings, that balance jangling guitars, rippling piano, occasional fiddle and crisp rhythm sections closer to the best of LA country rock than what normally emanates from Nashville. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

the best country music I have heard in my life
"Why walk when you can fly?" Mary Chapin Carpenter asks on the first track of Stones in the Road.I often can't walk after tapping my toes to country music but I had no problem walking after listening to this cd because the songs here aren't so much toe-tappers as ballads that soothe even when the lyrics speak of heartache and pain.Mary has a great voice - it's soft and clear and tells a lively story.The music on these tracks isn't showy and is just there to accompany her voice.This is the best country cd I have heard in my life - I liked every single song on it and would recommend it to people who don't usually listen to country.

Mary's "Sergeant Pepper" !
For many, it is "Come On Come On" that really does it. For me, this is the one where it all REALLY came together for MCC. From the lyrically clever rock of "Keeper For Every Flame", the almost Springsteen-esque "House Of Cards" with it's borrowed guitar line from "Two Hearts", the Celtic beauty and majesty of "Jubilee" to the title track, this is a shimmering collection showcasing one of the truly great singer/songwriters at her very best.

The title track has melody, sad, evocative lyrics and that certain something that makes MCC unique and makes us all think back to our childhood as we listen. I challenge anyone not to.

The masterpiece on this album, is, however, "John Doe # 24", which is, unquestionably, the most moving song I have heard in my entire life. The narrative is heartbreaking, and when topped off with the most beautiful tenor saxophone imaginable from the peerles Branford Marsalis it is irresistable. This song is, for me, Mary Chapin's Mona Lisa.

Buy this album. If you have a big heart, you won't be disappointed. MCC connects with her listeners here, more than she has ever done.

Just Amazing!!!!!!!
All I can say is that, after reading a review of this album in the 'The Times' (around 7/8 years ago) which declared it to be "near perfect", I decided to give it a try (i.e. buy it!) even though I had never even heard of Mary Chapin Carpenter! I was not disappointed. On the contrary; it is quite the most beautiful album I have ever listened to; intensley lyrical and really quite profound in places! In all these these years I have never tired of listening to this CD. What more can I say..!!!!!!!!!!! Buy it and enjoy.........otherwise you will never know what you have missed out!