Album Review: Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Things That We Are Made Of

Like a slow mist rolling down a valley or long evenings on the back porch, Carpenter's 14th album is a slow-moving and introspective country affair.

Confessional stories of heartache and emotional turbulence are presented and dissected on the Dave Cobb-produced album yet across nearly an hour of restrained mood the effect is one of dilution. The best track comes early on in the form of The Middle Ages, beyond that the sometimes cloying sentimentality and melancholic tone makes for a tiring listen and the impact of Carpenter's lyrics is diminished as the songs drift on and out into the aether.