Carrie Underwood, Play On (19/Arista Nashville)
Note: Underwood’s label didn’t make her new album available early for press; Play On is out today.
If it seems vaguely insulting to call the smashingly successful Idol alum’s material formulaic, know at least that it is, three albums in, one the most well-honed formulas in the business. Underwood’s M.O.—equal parts good-riddance-to-bad-boys stompers and fervent, string-swelling balladry—has served her well, and she’s no fool.
Hard-charging rocker “Undo It,” with its stuttering power-chord chorus (“I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it”) gives first single “Casanova” a run for its kiss-off glory; the banjo-goosed revenge anthem “Songs Like This” comes in a close third. Inevitably, the saucy stuff, which she embodies with easy, appealing verve, tends to eclipse the ballads, which too often substitute slick Hallmark-card sentimentality for genuine affect.
“Change” is an admirable if inevitably treacly call for social awareness and action (think John Mayer’s “Waiting On the World to Change,” lady-Nashville style); “Temporary Home” is the sonic equivalent of a Keane painting. She does better on more personal pleas like the aching, prettily melodic “Look at Me” and “What Can I Say,” a hit-the-big-notes duet with Clark brothers trio Sons of Sylvia. As always, her vocal ability is beyond reproach; a crack in the immaculately polished veneer, however, would be welcome too. Grade: B Download This: “Cowboy Casanova”
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Comments (1-30) of 45 Add your comment
I think it is an amazing album. Well done Carrie!
Look At Me really is achingly pretty. There’s something about Underwood’s voice that she sounds the best when she is pining away or begging for something. Someday When I Stop Loving You’s another album highlight.
Temporary Home being the sonic equivalent of a Margaret Keane painting is an analogy made of WIN! I’ve always had a soft spot for those and so I have a soft spot for Temporary Home too because of how pretty Underwood sounds on it.
I have a feeling I shouldn’t like Undo It but I do. Thumbs up to Cowboy Casanova and Songs Like This too.
Pretty good album I’d say.
Best of Carrie’s Three Cds, by far.
I downloaded the album and have played it non-stop today! Carrie’s voice is immaculate and the CD offers a great mix of ballads and up-tempo tracks. My faves are “Look At Me” and “Undo it”. Great job Carrier!!!!
Best Carrie album yet!! Kudos to Carrie for a job well done!!!
I don’t think Play On is as good as Carnival
maybe too soon to release another album. Nothing seems special on this one.
I have to disagree about it being too soon-Carnival Ride came out in 2007! We’ve been waiting two years for a new Carrie CD. I’m still undecided how much I like Play On (though my fave song is definitely Unapologize)
She sure is purdy…
Love her. Love this album. Her vocals are flawless.
Of course they’re flawless…the power of the recording studio fixes all! : )
Looking forward to getting this
Have to agree with MA Sink on this one, Play On is less than stellar compared to Carnival Ride and Some Hearts. This sounds extremely formulaic, but in a way that is also watered down and lazy. I love “Undo It” and “Cowboy Casanova”, but the rest of the album just runs together for me.
haha stop using Formulaic like you know what it means
I liked her past two albums, but i have to be honest and say that I was kinda bored as i listened to this one. I just feel that it’s the same-old, same-old.
Love her. Lover her music. She can do no wrong. She is SOOOO much better than that egyptian eye-makeup old Taylor Swift—
Note: Underwood’s label didn’t make her new album available early for press; Play On is out today.
So this is a rushed review. It’s out today, you reviewed today. It’s not a very trustable review, you may change your opinion in a few days. That’s why the press receive the albums early. If i were you i would check out the allmusic review for this album, they have been hearing this album since last week. And posted their review saturday. Before the release date. How the press didn’t receive the album, if they and others reviewd before ?
Why should reviewers have to work at trying to like an album? Casual listeners aren’t going to give this album more than one shot–and that’s who these reviews are aimed toward. Fans are going to buy no matter what.
It’s not called “try hard to like an album”. Every music critic and music fans knows that it’s not in one or two shots that an album reveals itself, that’s why i think is a rushed review. Music reviewers are not there to make someone buy a record, they are there to rate a record, talk about it, point the flaws, if there’s one, point the highs and the lows. If you think that your critics are trying to make you buy a disc, them you need to stop reading Rolling Stone. Real critics do this for the music, for the passion. This is why allmusic reviewers, robert christgau even pitchfork reviewers are still around.
I don’t think it’s as good as the first too….kinda disappointed…
I meant as the first TWO albums..ugh
Love Cowboy Cassanova.
I love this album so much! It is the best album of her career! There are so many beautiful ballads and kick ass edgy songs, that it is a great balance. Her voice has never sounded better, and I think she has grown alot as an artist. I think she deserves an A+ for this album, but I do like your review overall.
Thanx!
Too soon for another album – should have waited another 6 months.
This is the best of the 3 CD’s. Vocal maturity! A little bit of something for everyone. Only one that I could take or leave and thats Play On- It sounds like Shine by Martina sorta- the rest are rockin’ or so hypnotic they just mesmerize. Love it!
I disagree strooongly with the nagitive criticisim I mean would you throw a beautiful red rose that you( just picked for your wife or girlfriend) away just cause you can’t find a vase to put it in? Point is give the girl a break(or a chance) I would by this album despite what crappy comment I read I love her and even if I didn’t love her I sure as heck wouldn’t give her or this album a bad review in my oppenion she is way better then any body I have ever heard. Get this album. On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 12 and would go higher.
I listened on Itunes, I liked what I heard and I downloaded the whole CD. Have been listening to it none stop. This, my first Carrie CD is a winner. I haven’t found a song that I do not like. That is just plain weird. I never like all the songs on a CD.
By the way I see a lot of shows that put her on as the last thing in the show and it used to make me mad as beeep but I later on thougt. Maybe they are saving the BEST for last. Again if I was only aloud $20.00 a month for food and it came between Carrie’s album Play On and my food for the month I would choose Play On (Carrie Underwood) Love You Carrie keep up the Great Work!!! God Bless You!!!!
Formulaic? I think the word you’re looking for is CONSISTANT. As in she consistantly lays down flawless vocals paired with some sick beats. She is a country singer singing country music. I agree with the person above about this review being rushed. One cannot form an opinion about an album in one day. I am a huge Miranda Lambert fan but on the first day her new album came out, I knew it was good, but I hadn’t yet discovered that it was genius. That takes a few days worth of listening, even for a die hard fan. This album is fantastic and you can most definitely hear her vocal maturity. The first 2 were great, but I’m willing to bet this will be her biggest album yet. She is BY FAR the highest selling and most popular alumni from American Idol and she has won more awards than most of the other winners combined. Not only does she surpass all other AI contestants but she has surpassed LEGENDARY artists in her genre to win awards like the ACM Entertainer of the Year. She is the first woman to have done this since Shania! This doesn’t happen by accident people. Listen to Play On for a couple of days…. you’ll see it is the strongest of the three.
*CONSISTENT
Sounds a bit like her label is giving up on her…..
Overall Play On is good, though not as good as her previous albums.
Carrie’s voice is immaculate, love her third album, Play On!
This review is rushed. I hope more time has been made in listening to Carrie’s new album. Love the maturity and growth in the voice and lyrics of Carrie’s album.
If the music label didn’t want rushed reviews, they should have made the album available to reviewers earlier.
Love this album! Play On showcases both the power and control of Carrie’s vocals. I don’t agree that this is rushed. Love every song in this album
Think you for saying what I want to so to everybody who hates it. I am makeing a special trip to WalMart tomarrow just to get that CD. Every night I think God that Country Music has such a sweet, beautiful,& successful young lady. God Bless You Carrie Underwood I LOVE YOU
Quitter! I love it!
umm, get a grip it’s not that great. I’ve heard much better. Carrie has a good voice but it’s one toned and tends to get very screechy. the only real country sounding songs on this album are “Someday when I stop loving you” and “songs like this” everything else sounds the same or just simply boring and bland. Her previous 2 were MUCH better. She likes to pretend that she is so amazing but to go from Last name to temp home to undo it to someday is like who are you?? I dunno 3 stars for me. I dunno why everyone is so gaga over her. overrated if you ask me.