Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Shut Up and Sing

The plucky title of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s chart-topping 1994 country hit, “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” only begins to hint at the enduring verve of the five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter. Her most recent work, compiled on the April-released The Age of Miracles, steps her signature storytelling skills up a notch. Born out of a medical scare in 2007, the folk-rock album — her 12th release — conveys her awe of the world through references to everything from the moon landing to Hurricane Katrina. Longtime fans can follow Carpenter’s evolution when she totes what the Washington Post calls “strapping roots-rock and numinous ballads” to the Flynn this week.