Nothing is Free reinforces the indisputable fact that Carolyn Mark is a simply superb songwriter. Period.
The standout here is “Pictures at 5,” the witty heartbreaker that features the refrain that became the title of her fourth CD, one that could proudly stand alongside the best of Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lucinda Williams:
“She was long, tall and blonde and drinking white wine/parked in the spot that used to me mine/ But I gotta confess, I was strangely impressed/I thought ‘Mmm, lace panties’ when I looked up her dress.”
A new-country departure from what is essentially a solid collection of alt-country weepers, this song could easily be a hit. Like label-mate and side-project pal Neko Case, Mark takes traditional country compositions and gives them a contemporary patina. She has an engaging vocal style—her smoky alto is a throwback to the likes of Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee.
The heavy string arrangements and clean production offer a timeless authenticity to songs like “The 1 That Got Away (with it)”—a hurtin’ song about traversing the grey area between being an exciting new mistress and a boring old wife.
Watch out for the tears in your beer when you put on Nothing is Free. And you’ll want to put it on often—it’s a beauty.
http://www.carolynmark.com
