Between Here and Gone
Mary Chapin Carpenter · 2004
59 min · 12 tracks · country music
A reflective blend of folk and country, rich with storytelling and emotional depth across its melodic landscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
What Would You Say to Me Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
-
→
Goodnight America — This track resonates with its poignant commentary on American society, blending hope with melancholy as it reflects on contemporary issues.
-
→
Beautiful Racket — With its engaging melody and insightful lyrics, this song encapsulates the complexities of human relationships and self-discovery.
-
→
Between Here and Gone — The title track serves as an emotional anchor for the album, exploring themes of transition and the ephemeral nature of life.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production but remains within established country-folk frameworks.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, with guitar and piano forming the backbone of most tracks.
- Several songs employ a narrative structure, with verses that unfold stories rather than adhering to traditional verse-chorus forms.
- The pacing varies significantly; the first half maintains a reflective mid-tempo feel, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady melodic journey throughout
- reflective storytelling for introspection
- for quiet evenings
- emotional depth in each track
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer short, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and storytelling depth in Carpenter's established style.
- Career context
- When 'Between Here and Gone' was released in 2004, Mary Chapin Carpenter was a well-established artist, known for her poignant songwriting. This album came five years after her previous release, 'Time* Sex* Love*', marking a return to the studio after a period of personal and professional introspection.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nanci Griffith· Lucinda Williams· Patty Griffin
Tracklist
- 1 What Would You Say to Me Start here 3:43
- 2 Luna’s Gone 4:16
- 3 My Heaven 5:53
- 4 Goodnight America 5:36
- 5 Between Here and Gone 5:08
- 6 One Small Heart 6:02
- 7 Beautiful Racket 4:40
- 8 Girls Like Me 4:27
- 9 River 4:21
- 10 Grand Central Station 4:25
- 11 The Shelter of Storms 5:18
- 12 Elysium 5:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.