The Dirt and the Stars

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]

The Dirt and the Stars
Studio album by
Mary Chapin Carpenter
ReleasedAugust 7, 2020
RecordedJanuary–February 2020[1]
StudioReal World Studios, Box, Wiltshire, England
Genre
[2]
Length58:29 (standard edition)
67:23 (with bonus tracks)
LabelLambent Light Records
ProducerEthan Johns
Mary Chapin Carpenter chronology
Sometimes Just the Sky
(2018)		 The Dirt and the Stars
(2020)		 One Night Lonely
(2021)

Background and recording

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

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

All tracks are written by Mary Chapin Carpenter

No.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
12."Our Man Walter Cronkite"3:44
13."Traveler's Prayer"5:09
Total length:67:23

Personnel

Technical personnel
  • 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
Chart performance for The Dirt and the Stars
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
  1. Hudak, Joseph (August 17, 2020). "Mary Chapin Carpenter Defies Ageism, Champions Self-Care on Empowering New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. "Mary Chapin Carpenter (artist genre)". music.apple.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  3. "The Dirt and the Stars by Mary Chapin Carpenter". Apple Music. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  4. Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (June 12, 2020). "Mary Chapin Carpenter Announces New Album 'The Dirt And The Stars'". Wide Open Country. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  5. Paxman, Bob (August 10, 2020). "Album Review: Mary Chapin Carpenter's 'The Dirt and the Stars'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  6. Jurek, Thom. "The Dirt and the Stars - Mary Chapin Carpenter | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Netaktion, LLC. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. Sodomsky, Sam. "Mary Chapin Carpenter: The Dirt and the Stars Album Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  8. "Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Dirt And The Stars (2020, Clear, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. August 7, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  9. "Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Dirt And The Stars (2020, Digital Download)". music.apple.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  10. "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  11. "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  14. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  15. "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
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