Thread: Review: Carrie Underwood plays on -- and it's OK

Great review

I debated posting this because this guy's been a jerk about Carrie for a long time and I don't think he gets her at all. But on the other hand when even a hater has to admit she's made progess on her new album it's a good thing right?

I couldn't disagree more with what he says about Carrie's interpretive skill and here's another guy who it seems only listened to the 1st verse of TH and decided he wasn't going to like it. But even he had to say good stuff about SWISLY and LAM, and SLT, CC, and PO too (although when did LN become about revenge ).

Anyway here's his review. The good stuff's bolded. It'd be great if we could focus on what he said about Carrie and not the TS slam too.

Idol Watch | Review: Carrie Underwood plays on -- and it's OK

Hold on to something because the earth could skip a beat off its rotation. I come in praise of Carrie Underwood.

Regular readers might recall I've not exactly held the American Idol winner in high esteem since she won the show in 2005 over my pick, Bo Bice. She has since become the most successful Idol yet (or at least in shouting distance of Kelly Clarkson and that gap should probably close when sales of Carrie's third CD, Play On, are factored in soon.)

But here goes: Play On is not a bad album. It's not great, not even close. Carrie still lacks the interpretive skill to get deep into a lyric and convey warmth, understanding or nuance and her voice turns thin and gratingly reedy when she reaches for the high notes -- which is all too often. (Part of that problem could be attributed to the engineering on contemporary rock and country records these days which compresses everything into one flat sound and then boosts the volume's loudness until it distorts for some strange reason no one has yet to explain properly).

Good is stretching it, too, but compared to her wildly popular albums Some Hearts and Carnival Ride, Play On teases that there might be more to the robotic, remote persona than first glimpsed by millions on Idol.

Nowhere is this more apparent than on the lovely Someday When I Stop Loving You. Never has Carrie sung with more thought as she does softly on this effective country ballad. She also harmonizes well with Vince Gill on the tender Look at Me and the vocal restraint is most welcome. Both of these songs soar clouds above her treacly hits Jesus Take the Wheel or this album's pandering lapses into awkward Idol Gives Back social commentary. Of those songs, Change frets about the hungry and Temporary Home finds Carrie worried about foster care, Change is the less cloying. Perhaps that's because it has a strong melodic hook to override the easy sentiment.

Carrie also reclaims ground lost to Taylor Swift as the idol offers more infectious guilty pleasures this time out -- and, unlike Taylor, Carrie can sing more than two notes in tune. Carrie improves upon the Shania Twain formula on the pop-rock single Cowboy Casanova which works that Def Leppard stomp meets country flavor like a pro. She keeps us from missing Shania too much.

"Guys like you are the reason for" Songs Like This also improves upon Carrie's spurned and revenge-seeking firebrand style of Before He Cheats and Last Name by upping the hook quotient and being considerably more believable from a lyrical sense. And, in one instance when she does go for the money-notes, as on the pop/rock title track, she nails them in a song that sticks.

Given how successful she's been, there's little reason to mess with what has worked commercially. But for the few spots where Carrie gives tantalizing tidbits of becoming an artist actually worthy of all the acclaim and awards she's gotten, the standout tracks on Play On helps the CD earns repeat rotation and makes the sure bet of album number four in two years not such a worrisome thing after all.

Already posted here: http://www.carriefans.com/carrie-und...ys-its-ok.html (Review: Carrie Underwood plays on -- and it's OK)

Thanks - I reported my post to ask for a merge.

Funny I read this and thought it was new, lol. It was your bolding I guess.

Wow this is actually one of the better reviews we have read so far! lol this actually put me in a good mood. lol

I've noticed that her high notes have that sort of "reedy" quality to them in studio records, as well. But then when she sings them live, they don't sound like that anymore. I guess he's right, and it's something that the engineering is responsible for. I've always felt that way though, ever since "Some Hearts"...her high notes sound so much richer and more powerful LIVE.

there must be a full moon because the haters are coming around! wow! This is the second hater that gave her props this time! (9513 being the other).

Houston, we still have a problem with you though. lol

^lmao u got that right lol

Love the review!

Originally Posted by MelissaD

I've noticed that her high notes have that sort of "reedy" quality to them in studio records, as well. But then when she sings them live, they don't sound like that anymore. I guess he's right, and it's something that the engineering is responsible for. I've always felt that way though, ever since "Some Hearts"...her high notes sound so much richer and more powerful LIVE.

So the answer is in the engineering. I have always thought Carrie sounded better live.

wow....

great review!

Originally Posted by teesharky

there must be a full moon because the haters are coming around! wow! This is the second hater that gave her props this time! (9513 being the other).

Houston, we still have a problem with you though. lol

I must have missed it, where is the 9513 review?

I guess it's the "picking hr apart" that they are doing that is bothering me so much. Once they get about half way into each review the writer has to start "admitting" all the good things. As if it pains them to do it.
I just don't understand what Carrie ever did to anyone to make so many have to work just to be nice. And this was barely nice.

Originally Posted by The Nanook

I must have missed it, where is the 9513 review?

Here ya go:

http://www.carriefans.com/carrie-und...h-reading.html (The9513 Review Of Play On (No, really. It's actually worth reading.))

Why do these reviewers think TH is about homelessness and foster care???.......I thought it was simple that the song was about this earth being a temporary home and the there after being our eternal home. Guess someone should send these reviewers the youtube video of Carrie explaining the meaning of TH, since obviously they couldn't figure it out on their own.

Originally Posted by Jade_kt

Why do these reviewers think TH is about homelessness and foster care???.......I thought it was simple that the song was about this earth being a temporary home and the there after being our eternal home. Guess someone should send these reviewers the youtube video of Carrie explaining the meaning of TH, since obviously they couldn't figure it out on their own.

I think the first 2 verses lead one to that conclusion..it is only in the final verse (the old man in the hospital) that you get the real message of temporary home and even then you would have to be familiar with the concept of a heaven and an eternal life beyond what we experience on earth.

The video of Carrie's explanation isn't a bad idea.

Fantastic Review! Great Article! Thanks for posting