The Dirt and the Stars
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| The Dirt and the Stars | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 7, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | January–February 2020[1] | |||
| Studio | Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire, England | |||
| Genre | [2] | |||
| Length | 58:29 (standard edition) 67:23 (with bonus tracks) | |||
| Label | Lambent Light Records | |||
| Producer | Ethan Johns | |||
| Mary Chapin Carpenter chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Dirt and the Stars is the 16th studio album by American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, released by Lambent Light Records on August 7, 2020.[3]
Background and recording[edit]
In a press release, Carpenter described the songs on the album as "very personal" and "difficult in some ways, and definitely come from places of pain and self-illumination, but also places of joy, discovery and the rewards of self- knowledge." She wrote the album at her Virginia farmhouse and recorded it at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios near Bath, England[4] between January and February 2020 prior to lockdowns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Critical reception[edit]
Bob Paxman of Sounds of Nashville gave The Dirt and the Stars a positive review, praising Carpenter for her ability to "[get] her message across with lyrical passages that could easily pass for straight poetry" and the album's cohesiveness that allows the songs to "build with nice opening sequences".[5] Thom Jurek of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars, highlighting the use of Carpenter's "empathic" band to "erase all boundaries between singer and song", and describing it as one of her standout albums from her entire repertoire.[6] Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork was similarly positive, giving the album a 7.7 out of 10. He wrote: "Three decades into her career, one of country music’s most reliable and empathetic songwriters offers a profoundly intimate record, full of hushed revelations."[7]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Mary Chapin Carpenter
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Farther Along and Further In" | 4:57 |
| 2. | "It's Ok to be Sad" | 5:05 |
| 3. | "All Broken Hearts Break Differently" | 4:42 |
| 4. | "Old D-35" | 5:55 |
| 5. | "American Stooge" | 6:05 |
| 6. | "Where the Beauty Is" | 3:51 |
| 7. | "Nocturne" | 6:16 |
| 8. | "Secret Keepers" | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Asking for a Friend" | 5:13 |
| 10. | "Everybody's Got Something" | 5:19 |
| 11. | "Between the Dirt and the Stars" | 7:43 |
| Total length: | 58:29 | |
Vinyl-only bonus tracks[8]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Traveler's Prayer" | 5:09 |
| 13. | "Our Man Walter Cronkite" | 3:45 |
| Total length: | 67:23 | |
Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music bonus tracks[9]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Our Man Walter Cronkite" | 3:44 |
| 13. | "Traveler's Prayer" | 5:09 |
| Total length: | 67:23 | |
Personnel[edit]
- Mary Chapin Carpenter – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Jeremy Stacey – drums, percussion
- Nick Pini – electric and double bass, Moog
- Matt Rollings – piano, Hammond organ
- Duke Levine – electric guitar, 12 string acoustic guitar, mandolin
- Ethan Johns – mandolin, continuum, electric guitar, percussion, drums
Technical personnel[edit]
- Ethan Johns – producer
- Jamie Melford and Mary Chapin Carpenter, co-producers (bonus track "Our Man Walter Cronkite" only)
- Dom Monks – engineer, mixing
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Aaron Farrington and Chris Tetzeli – photography
- Mark Berger – package layout
Chart performance[edit]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[10] | 43 |
| US Folk Albums (Billboard)[11] | 6 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12] | 35 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[13] | 14 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] | 7 |
| UK Americana Albums (OCC)[15] | 2 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Hudak, Joseph (August 17, 2020). "Mary Chapin Carpenter Defies Ageism, Champions Self-Care on Empowering New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter (artist genre)". music.apple.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "The Dirt and the Stars by Mary Chapin Carpenter". Apple Music. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (June 12, 2020). "Mary Chapin Carpenter Announces New Album 'The Dirt And The Stars'". Wide Open Country. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ Paxman, Bob (August 10, 2020). "Album Review: Mary Chapin Carpenter's 'The Dirt and the Stars'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "The Dirt and the Stars - Mary Chapin Carpenter | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Netaktion, LLC. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ Sodomsky, Sam. "Mary Chapin Carpenter: The Dirt and the Stars Album Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Dirt And The Stars (2020, Clear, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. August 7, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Dirt And The Stars (2020, Digital Download)". music.apple.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
