Those who do not believe that Carrie Underwood is currently one of America's most influential pop icons probably did not attend the CMA Fest in Nashville this year. Shortly before, the blonde with the exceptionally good voice released her new single "Cry Pretty", which is also the title track of the new album. That was not all, because the winner of the 2005 edition of the casting show "American Idol" created a new style among their fans with the cover photo and the look in the accompanying music video. At the biggest country festival in the world, the Carrie-Mania culminated in the fact that countless girls could also paint similar-looking tears at a specially erected stand and, accordingly, uniformly watched the performance of the singer in the stadium.
Stadium is a good word, because sports fans have been talking about Carrie Underwood for just a few days, as well, albeit with some controversy, as she sings the new song for NBC's Sunday Night Football show, which is watched by millions on TV. As if the series must still be topped, the singer may reveal on 20 September 2018 on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, a star plaque with her name. Not to mention that it also runs privately: Carrie and her husband expect a second baby. Let's hope that the hype is not "Cry Pretty", the sixth studio album of the singer is too short.
Small rock opera to kick off "Cry Pretty"
"Cry Pretty" starts with the title track that Underwood wrote with Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose and Lori McKenna. Anyone who is familiar with the scene knows that this collaboration virtually guarantees a hit. And indeed Carrie Underwood sings (and cries) into the hearts of the fans. Like a whole series of ballads by Rascal Flatts, "Cry Pretty" begins quietly, then mutates more and more into a bombastic staged, small rock opera, which in the end seems to get louder and louder 35-year-old with her impressive voice volume, in other words, her strong voice keeps the upper hand.
In "Low", the singer even puts a vocal on it. Written by Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey and producer David Garcia, the song seems to be inspired by Chris Stapleton, as rarely has Underwood heard such powerful guitars as background music before. The artist keeps the variety factor as high as usual, after the more intense numbers at the beginning the poppy "Southbound" makes for a light moment and also delivers the good-humored partynummer of the record.
Emotional and thrilling: the best songs of Carrie Underwood's new album
At the very latest at "The Bullet" it gets intense and emotional again. The moving story is about a mother who has to bury her son and that the bullet that killed him has also hurt a large number of other people who are now mourning the deceased.
The following "Spinning Bottles" goes one better. Probably the most intense song of the album deals with the consequences of alcohol dependence. Absolutely superbly performed musically with the great voice of the protagonist and well-measured sounds of cello, pedal steel and keyboard.
"Love Wins" is dedicated to the two serious topics of love again. This happens so powerfully that it is hardly possible to resist this positive spirit. Although it is not primarily about the love of God, this is a song of the worship fans should also arrive very well.
Conclusion: If the record label writes that Carrie Underwood releases her new pop album, that's no lie. Still, "Cry Pretty" has more to offer than a standard pop CD thanks to a range of gripping titles. In addition, the singer is not a complete departure from the genre as Taylor Swift, so the bottom line on many tracks her heart for country music remains unmistakable.