Here's a combination I never expected to see. Country-folk star Mary Chapin Carpenter was been making stately, pretty music since 1987. In the '90s, she sold millions and won a bunch of Grammys. She was one of my dad's favorite singers. Carpenter turns out to be friends with John Darnielle, frontman of the Mountain Goats, one of my favorite bands. Today, Carpenter has joined forces with the Mountain Goats to release a couple of covers.
The Mountain Goats released their theatrical concept album Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan last year, and they followed it with the one-off single "Going To Fennario" in January. Today, they join Mary Chapin Carpenter for a couple of covers that band member Matt Douglas recorded at his studio. Carpenter sings lead on a version of "Put The Message In The Box," a college-rock classic that the late Karl Wallinger wrote for his band World Party in 1990. John Darnielle takes center stage for the other song, a version of Canadian folk-pop artist Christine Fellows' 1995 song "Migrations." Here's what Carpenter says about the collaboration:
John Darnielle and I have been friends for many years now; he’s been a dedicated correspondent and ally in all topics connected to songwriting, recording, touring and the balancing act that a life involving these pursuits requires. He also very kindly joined me in conversation on my podcast a few years back to talk about hope — what it means to him, what it looks like from where he stands, and the challenges of maintaining it in the times we are living in. To have collaborated on these two favorite songs with John and the Mountain Goats has been a joy and a gift — joining our voices, singing these words from other favorite artists, and feeling the music deeply.
And here's Darnielle:
I’ve looked up to Mary Chapin Carpenter for half my life. Getting to know her over the past few years has been such a pure pleasure, so when she asked about doing a split single where we pick songs to cover and help each other out on the effort, what could we say but "hell yes"? Mary Chapin picked a World Party song I’ve always loved, and I picked out a Christine Fellows song I can barely sing without crying. But I did it! Matt arranged it! This was a great joy for us, and I hope you dig it!
Hear both covers below.
"Put The Message In The Box" b/w "Migrations" is out now on the Mountain Goats' Cadmean Dawn label. Vinyl versions will soon be available for pre-order here.
