Carlene Carter

Red Tunic Troll

posted on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:55:04

Stirring comeback of country, country-rock and pop

It's hard to believe it's been 13 years since Carter released her last album ("Little Acts of Treason"), and over 25 since she burst forward with 1980's Nick Lowe-produced "Musical Shape." But eight years after her last album, Carter was knocked flat by a year that could drain anyone's artistic batteries: 2003 brought the passing of her partner (Heartbreakers bassist, Howie Epstein), mother (June Carter Cash), step-father (Johnny Cash), and sister (Rosey Carter Adams). Her subsequent slip off the sobriety wagon dug the hole deeper, but also provided a path to recovery, a new marriage and, finally, the focus to turn a decade's worth of life material and personal growth into new songs.

The album's first take was produced by John Carter Cash and sold at live shows. Carter subsequently returned to the studio with John McFee (Clover, Doobie Brothers) to kick the rework the songs and basic tracks. The result is fuller and more refined, but still crackles with the artistic renewal of a career reclaimed and the life force of a spirit renewed. Carter sounds stronger in every sense, and opens herself up to remember, grieve and rediscover the sunny side of life. Her ten new songs (along with a remake of 1980's "I'm So Cool") range from the country-rock opener, to the Carter Family sound of "To Change Your Heart," and the rich guitars, pedal steel and waltz time of "Spider Lace."

Carter addresses her troubles head-on with the title song's elegy for her sister, revealing that recovery and newly found strength can be found as the flip-side of tragedy and loss. It's tremendously sweet, sad, sorrowful and hopeful. The heartaches pile up in "The Bitter End" and "Break My Little Heart in Two," but the former affects the sort of country tinged rock Dave Edmunds plied with Rockpile, while the latter swirls around the dancefloor in a surprisingly non-chalant two step of twangy pedal steel.

There are moments of pain here, but at mid-age they seem more controlled rather than controlling, and balanced by awakenings of happiness. Hope fuels perseverance on "To Change Your Heart," and the optimistic attitude of "Why Be Blue" is highlighted by banjo and twangy guitar. Carter's new husband, Broadway veteran Joseph Breen, was both an instigator of and inspiration for her renewed interest in songwriting, and duets on the tribute to Johnny Cash, "It Takes One to Know Me." And lest you think that Carter's lost her youthful rowdiness, she still sounds at home with the sassy lyrics of "I'm So Cool," though McFee's modern production isn't as earthy and sleek as Nick Lowe's original.

A hiatus as long as Carter's often suggests a creative dry well that leaves an artist devoid of musical inspiration. But her time on the sideline not only brought life experience that begat the emotional material of great songwriting, but also the itch and drive to produce a vital album of original music. Her voice shows no signs of rust (only the deepening of age), and though many of her new songs are rooted in the country-pop-rock of her early career, they still sound contemporary. There's a lot to love here, whether you were a Carlene Carter fan back in the day, latched onto country with the surge of country-hybrids like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucinda Williams or Deana Carter, trace your tastes back to the original Carter Family, or simply like honest country music with a kick. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2008 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]