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Time will tell, of course, but in The Calling, Carpenter may have her finest moment yet; it also feels like an artistic rebirth.
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If the new album goes farther in advocating a political conscience--"On with the Song" takes jabs at the jingoistic rubes who dissed the Dixie Chicks, while "Why Shouldn't We" insists we'll have worthy heroes in office again one day--it largely invokes the same quiet, warm, and conversational tone as its predecessor.
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The Calling will test your emotions, making you feel glowing and comfortable, then useless and helpless.
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It is her most authoritative and cogent statement.
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Only a singer-songwriter with the force and clarity of Mary Chapin Carpenter could make nihilism sound so cheery.
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Carpenter... us[es] image-rich, airy tunes to sweetly embrace positive persistence in the face of adversity.
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The album, like so much of her other work, should be on year-end lists nine months from now.
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UncutThe Calling finds her in fine voice, nestling somewhere between Shawn Colvin and Helen Reddy. [Apr 2007, p.116]
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Paste MagazineThough much of the blandness can be attributed to Matt Rollings' MOR production, one is left wishing an artist of Carpenter's considerable talents would eschew the aural dreck and truly shine. [May 2007, p.68]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 9 out of 10
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Mixed: 1 out of 10
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Negative: 0 out of 10
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AllenSMay 8, 2007
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MattD.May 1, 2007
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JohnDApr 28, 2007