CD Reviews- Carrie Underwood- Play On

Background:
This is the highly anticipated 2009 release from the four-time Grammy Award winner and former American Idol winner. Carrie has come a long way since her AI days including selling more than 10 million albums, garnering ACM and CMA awards and becoming the first country artist in history to achieve 10 #1 singles from her first two albums. To top that all off, she was also recently inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

The Review:
So let’s get that white elephant out of the room right off the bat. Carrie Underwood, like Taylor Swift, walks that fine line between country music and pop music. That’s not to say that that place in contemporary country is wrong- it’s probably one of the most profitable places to be in music today. But to discount that genre that they’ve created in music- from either side- probably isn't being fair. Like it or not, the contemporary country music genre is as much as part of the fabric of the overall country music scene as any subgenre there is. Today, even more so than any classic movement or outlaw music, contemporary country music is the face of the genre. And it’s with that mindset that we went out and reviewed this album. The first song and first single, "Cowboy Casanova" is the biggest crossover song on the album, with a stomping dance beat under Underwood's warnings about a playboy. Reminiscent of some of Shania Twain’s hook driven hits, it’s a catchy, albeit loud, song that has been racing up the charts. Where Carrie Underwood shines here with is with two of the ballads that were co-written with her pen in “Mama’s Song” and “Temporary Home.” "Mama's Song" is a touching and soft song about generations of mothers trying to let daughters grow up and move on. "I wanted to leave it really general," Underwood says. "So it could be, you know, even if your mom is kind of letting you go, not to a man specifically, but letting you go and God will take care of my daughter." Most importantly, the production is mellow enough that it allows Underwood to use her vocals to “feel” the lyrics instead of let them go full-blast like on some of the more up-tempos on the album. The three verses of “Temporary Home” utilize lyrics that help share Underwood’s faith and are a terrific storytelling journey in the process. The first depicts a 6-year-old boy in a foster home; the second, a single mother in a halfway house. In the final verse, a dying man is surrounded by family members in a hospital. And on "What Can I Say," Underwood brings in Sons of Sylvia (formerly the Clark Brothers) for a duet. While they’re justifiably no match for Underwood’s vocals, the Clarks make a great partner and this radio-friendly song also marks one of the highlights on the album. Several songs from "Play On" will likely be successful radio hits. But overall, the album feels a bit uneven, somewhat odd and choppy without a clear style. Perhaps that is by design by the producers to reach the widest possible audience, but it kept this reviewer from being able to dig in to the album in any depth. Bottom line, Carrie Underwood is a truly gifted vocalist with an amazing range. The album could use some better material for her to work with, however.

Sounds Like:
Martina McBride & Shania Twain

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Mama’s Song
Temporary Home
What Can I Say?

The Verdict:
Three Stars Out Of Five