Customer Reviews

Shooting Straight In The Dark

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a matter of integrity, Mary-Chapin Carpenter's folkish approach to country music might be a bit tough to swallow. Born and raised in the Ivy League town of Princeton, New Jersey; living among the bureaucrats of Washington D.C., and attending a New England school of liberal studies (Brown University), where does "country" fit in this picture? It doesn't.

Carpenter is not so much a country writer as an "anti-Nashville" artist. Her compositions are feminist, intelligent, introspective and solid. They're strong enough to lend themselves well to a variety of treatments including folk, pop, Cajun and country. The style of each song depends on its musical attributes. With touches of jangling guitar, `Going Out Tonight' becomes a Pop standard in the tradition of the British Invasion. Underlined with Don Dixon's bass, and polishes with Marti Jones' spirited vocal harmonies, `Right Now' is a highly charged country dance number. The mixed feminist message of "Middle Ground' melt nicely with the powerful rhythm and bright guitar work. For quiet introspection, `What You Didn't Say' and `The Moon and St. Christopher' should satisfy the most jaded folkie. Carpenter is at her best on the angry and forceful country-rocker `You Win Again:' Robbie Magruder's pounding drums, John Jennings' thundering bass chords and screaming guitar raise this number to "I Can't Take No More Of Your Garbage" anthem status.

Talented artists surround themselves with gifted and complimentary partners, and the CD booklet reads like the "Who's Who" of adult contemporary music: the majestic voices of Shawn Colvin and Marti Jones with Don Dixon on guitar grace the album. Mary-Chapin Carpenter doesn't portray herself as a "county girl," but like the finest country music, `Shooting Straight In The Dark' shoots straight from the heart - and that's plenty enough for me.

You heard "Going Out Tonight", "Down At The Twist And Shout" and "You Win Again" on the radio but you have to hear the rest of the album to hear some of Mary's finest songs ever. My two favorites are "Can't Take Love For Granted" (my all time favorite MCC song) and "Middle Ground" (my all time second favorite MCC song). The album has a variety of different song styles that blend perfectly. Rockers like "Right Now" and "Twist And Shout" will get you moving on your feet while "Halley Came To Jackson" sounds like a lulliby for adults as well as children. You won't go wrong with this album. I think it is her finest work to date and is even better than "Stones In The Road", another 5 star album by this very talented singer-songwriter. Buy it now!

Fellow Brunonian Mary Chapin Carpenter is often seen as a country musician, even if many of her songs don't easily fit the stereotypical view of a Nashville music scene dominated by the legacy of Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash, to name but a few. Instead, she might more accurately be described as an urban folk musician, whose musical influences range from rock to folk, bluegrass and country. If you regard Mary Chapin Carpenter mainly from this perspective, then you should truly appreciate listening to this early album of hers, which is replete with folkish tunes to hard rocking country/folk ballads that are played on both contemporary pop and country stations. The most popular song from this album, "Down At The Twist and Shout" is a vibrant, zydeco-influenced country rock song which was among her first major hits. However, another, lesser hit, "Can't Take Love For Granted", more accurately encapsulates her introspective, feminist-oriented urban folk tradition which has made her music quite distinctive, but underappreciated, by more traditional country/folk music fans and critics.

"Shooting Straight in the Dark" is my third favorite MCC album. The songs are all incredibly catchy and fun to sing along. One of the first songs I have heard from Mary is from this album which is "You Win Again" (and the smash hit "Down at the Twist and Shout"). The infectious melodies and bittersweet lyrics were a perfect combination. I consider the infecious "Right Now" a precursor to "I Feel Lucky". It has that fun vibe that I hear in "I Feel Lucky" (despite the fact that I'm rather tired of that song). The production on "Shooting Straight in the Dark" is simply steller. John Jennings did a marvelous job at keeping a live performance vibe to this album as well as the other albums he produced with Mary. I think Mary's vocals are at her best when she rocks out like on songs such as "The More Things Change" and the cajun-influenced "Down At the Twist and Shout", a reminder that MCC isn't going to be restricted to the confines of traditional country music. On the softer side, I loved the gentle yet somber "When She's Gone" and "The Moon and St. Christopher". Despite my disdain for most country music, I will always enjoy Mary Chapin Carpenter's music.

Mary Chapin Carpenter is classified as a country artist, and she is, but her music, lyric, and vocal styles range beyond that. Meaning, if you're not a big country fan, (I'm not), give Shooting Straight in the Dark a listen anyway and see what you think. Her deep, rich voice is unusual among female singers and sometimes I simply have to just close my eyes and let it wash over me, it's such a pleasure to listen to.

As others have mentioned, the songs on this album range from ones that fit it on any country radio station, to others that would be comfortably at home on any adult contemporary station. Even though Down at the Twist and Shout isn't a style of music that is my normal fare, I still find myself singing along anyway. Middle Ground is a fantastic song and is a great example of not only MCC's music talents, but also her lyrical storytelling ability. Halley Came to Jackson is another one I always find myself singing along to. But the best song on the album in my opinion, and one which underlines her broad appeal and mastery of song lyrics, is Can't Take Love for Granted. This song is firmly entrenched in my all time favorites playlist.

If you're not sure yet whether or not to take the Mary Chapin Carpenter plunge, Shooting Straight in the Dark is a great place to start.

Yet another winner for Mary Chapin Carpenter. The pain of losing(Going Out Tonight, What You Didn't Say) and loneliness(Middle Ground)are countered with the Cajun flavored Down Out At The Twist And Shout and the toe-tapping Right Now. The result surpasses her previous efforts.

Loved the song Halley Come to Jackson as soon as I heard it, but shortly after I bought the CD I read Eudora Welty's "One Writer's Beginnings." MCC must have read it too. Captures the feeling perfectly. I still cry when I hear the song. I'm sure she must have taken it from Welty's memoir.

I first heard "You Win Again" performed on "Austin City Limits" in 1993, and I was instantly hooked on MC-2's gift for music. Her work on this album, along with phenomenal guitarist John Jennings, represents some of the finest "Pure Americana" music available.

One of the best albums by anyone ever. Turn down the lights and listen to the lyrics. Chapin has some beautiful stories to tell. This one gets better every time you listen to it, and I've been listenting to it for more than five years now!

MCC has created an awesome and very special album with Shooting Straight In The Dark. She really comes into her own on this one. Every song is terrific! If you want to experince MCC's best album this is it. After this one I recommend State of the Heart and Stones In The Road. Avoid Come On Come On -- it is very over rated with a few good songs (especially He Thinks He'll Keep Her) but very very mediocre overall. Every song on SSITD is a winner and is totally enjoyable from start to finish. Highly Recommended!