by Mary Chapin Carpenter - Personal History
Flyctory.com Pros
- Great storytelling
- Lovely atmosphere
- Very personal and intimate songs
17 studio albums, five Grammy Awards – Mary Chapin Carpenter is definitely a big name in the country and folk genre. On 6th June 2025, she is releasing her 18th studio album overall. Here is my review of Personal History.
Mary Chapin Carpenter – About The Artist
Mary Chapin Carpenter was born on 21st February 1958 in Princeton, New Jersey. The US-American artist started to pursue a professional career in the mid-1980’s. In the early 1990’s, she was at the peak of her career, when three albums in a row at least received one platinum record. During that time, Mary Chapin Carpenter had multiple Top 10 records. Her most recent solo album was the 2020 The Dirt and the Stars. Earlier this year, she released Looking for the Thread alongside Julie Fowls and Karine Polwart.
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History – Track by Track
The eleven track album lasts 49 minutes.
1. What Did You Miss
What did you miss when the days went missing
What did you wish for when the world went dark
Streetlights still switched on in the evening
The sun still performed its daily march
The album begins with the very intimate and beautiful storytelling What Did You Miss. Mary Chapin Carpenters warm and fine voice turn this song into a very atmospheric five minute listen. A really promising beginning of her Personal History, which feels to be nicely in line with the album title.
2. Paint + Turpentine
The second track starts with Think I must’ve been 25, they let me sneak in through the side. Again, the calm, but warm vocal style of the female artist feels to take you into the story of the song from its very beginning. It just needs the piano and some guitar chords to turn the song into a magical listen.
3. New Religion
Third song out of eleven so far – and I am already in love with Mary Chapin Carpenter and her 2025 songs. New Religion is so calm, unagitated – and by that also so beautiful. I really love listening to her voice and dig into her story. Finally, I love her New Religion:
My church is under canopies of oak trees
And the songs I hear make me feel they know me
There’s never been a place I’ve found
That feels more holy
4. Girl and Her Dog
The song is not only about Marie Chapin Carpenter’s pet, but also about being happy with what you’ve got. Or, as she states it in the song
Now the older I get the less I need
Just a good old dog underneath the trees
Keeping it simple as it can be
Fitting together like a puzzle piece
Having the lyrics as part of the press kit of this album is such a gift. Even though you can easily just listen to her songs as well. Love that one.
5. The Saving Things
The Saving Things comes with a stronger rhythm and more intense instrumental work. Thus, the song feels special after all the rather calm and quiet messages before. There is simply a reason, why there are a couple of Grammy Awards in Carpenter’s collection – she does this kind of song with style and ease as well. Love it. Later in the almost five minute song, there are also some nice brass elements.
6. Hello, My Name Is
What stays when you leave one day? Mary Chapin Carpenter is dealing with that topic in the sixth song of her Personal History. The song is again a calm one, which again comes with beautiful and very personal thoughts. In regards of the intensity of that song, it is one of the core tracks of the album to me.
7. Bitter Ender
Just two episodes of Carpenter’s Personal History have been revealed before the album. The 3:29 minute Bitter Ender is one of them. The strumming acoustic guitar and the rhythm of the song lead to a certain ease. It is a really nice folk song with some pop and country elements.
8. The Night We Never Met
On the night we never met
I saw you standing
In a crowded station
Waiting for a train
Or maybe you were staring out from a cafe
And I was walking by in the rain
With the gently strumming guitar and the brushed drums, the swaying The Night We Never Met feels to take you back by some decades. Likely, this non-happening event indeed happened a bit earlier in Carpenter’s life. And, again, I am calming down, like the song does, and simply love what Carpenter is doing in a great manner.
9. Home Is A Song
Home Is A Song is the second single release featured on Personal History. It is hard to find words for this one, which I haven’t used already. The song reminds of the predecessor, it just feels even more intense and magical. Great one!
Love is a language, time is a thief
Hope is a lantern, breath is relief
Memory is water pooled in your palm
Home is a song
10. Say It Anyway
The tenth track is accompanied by the piano. This leads to a very personal touch. I don’t need to state anymore how trutthful, straight and intimate the song feels – I stated it that often in my review already.
11. Coda
The Coda of Personal History closes the album with a five minute listen. It is a full song with lyrics.
Tomorrow’s sun is bound to rise and set
On the promises we haven’t broken yet
We’ll do all of that and more
That’s what growing older is for
Pick your battles, lose your wars
And forgive what’s left
The song feels like the perfect ending of a perfect album.
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History – Spotify
Here is the album on Spotify:
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History – My View
I’m not a big fan of awards (even though I do make my one Best of postings every end of the year as well…). However, if there is a truthful and straight selection, Mary Chapin Carpenter should already clean some space in the living room for a couple of more praises of her musical work. Personal History is a hot candidate for my Album of the Year, even though just half of the year is gone so far. I absolutely love this record.
Favorite Song: Hello, My Name Is
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