The Things That We Are Made Of cover

Released 10 years ago

The Things That We Are Made Of

Mary Chapin Carpenter · 2016

48 min · 11 tracks · country music

Intimate storytelling unfolds through lush folk melodies and reflective country rhythms, creating a heartfelt exploration of life's complexities.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Something Tamed Something Wild Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its poetic exploration of balance between freedom and restraint, encapsulating Carpenter's storytelling prowess.
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    Map of My Heart — With its vivid imagery and emotional resonance, this song highlights Carpenter's ability to convey complex feelings about love and place in a concise format.
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    The Things That We Are Made Of — The title track serves as a poignant culmination of the album’s themes, reflecting on identity and existence with a contemplative melody that lingers long after listening.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album features strong songwriting and arrangements but remains within familiar country-folk territory.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a gentle acoustic guitar and builds in instrumentation, layering strings and piano as it progresses.
  • Several tracks feature a recurring theme of introspection, with lyrics that explore personal growth and the passage of time.
  • The final track concludes with a soft fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of reflection.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

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

  • intimate storytelling for reflection
  • steady pacing for thoughtful listening
  • mid-tempo flow invites connection
  • emotional depth with lush melodies

Maybe skip if you

  • seekers of high-energy tracks
  • prefer standalone singles over albums

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Late Career Highlight — Strong release after a five-year gap, showing continued artistic vitality.
Career context
Released in 2016, The Things That We Are Made Of is Mary Chapin Carpenter's first studio album in five years, following 2010's The Age of Miracles. By this time, Carpenter had already established herself as a significant voice in country and folk music, with numerous awards and acclaim to her name. This album marked a return to her roots after a period of personal reflection and growth.
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Tracklist

  • 1 Something Tamed Something Wild Start here 3:46
  • 2 The Middle Ages 3:48
  • 3 What Does It Mean to Travel 3:09
  • 4 Livingston 5:13
  • 5 Map of My Heart 2:57
  • 6 Oh Rosetta 4:39
  • 7 Deep Deep Down Heart 4:34
  • 8 Hand on My Back 5:14
  • 9 The Blue Distance 5:04
  • 10 Note on a Windshield 4:49
  • 11 The Things That We Are Made Of 5:30

What to play next

Sometimes Just the Sky
Listen next

Sometimes Just the Sky

2018

Continues the intimate storytelling with a fresh perspective and new arrangements.
Ashes and Roses
Go back to

Ashes and Roses

2012

Sets a reflective tone that leads into the themes explored in the current album.
Full Mary Chapin Carpenter discography Where to start with Mary Chapin Carpenter Artists like Mary Chapin Carpenter

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