Harold B. (roho) from JONESBOROUGH, TN Reviewed on 9/22/2012...
Nice listening music. I am enjoying all Carrie's music. I just hope the fast life don't do her wrong.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Shelba A. (busylady) from ORIENTAL, NC Reviewed on 6/5/2010...
A fabulous collection...I love every song on this disc.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Joaquin H. (joaham) from FOREST HILLS, NY Reviewed on 3/19/2010...
Great Album.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Margaret B. from PUTNAM, CT Reviewed on 11/7/2009...
Fantastic singer.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Ruth M. from KINSTON, NC Reviewed on 6/5/2007...
Good songs
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Missy B. (straycat) from BATTLE GROUND, WA Reviewed on 8/31/2006...
As an American Idol watcher, I wanted to check out Carrie Underwood's CD. It is completely beautiful. Can definitely tell why she won. I can see her becoming HUGE. Honest. Brilliant CD.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Diana M. (booklady4) from MIDLOTHIAN, VA Reviewed on 8/28/2006...
I am an American Idol lover so of course I bought this CD....then got another as a gift! I don't usually go for country music but this album is brilliant.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Much Better Than I Expected It To Be...4 Stars
Musac Critic | 11/15/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Like all American Idol produced albums, there is always some inconsistency with production and etc... There is the slightest bit of this on Carrie's album. We first began to truly see this with Fantasia's exceptional debut, Ruben sophomore effort (better than his debut Soulful), and of course multi-platinum pop-rocker Kelly Clarkson's Grammy deserving Breakaway. SOME HEARTS presents a truly credible country album without the American Idol aspect attached, which may mark the first American Idol debut to officially shed that image.
Carrie's debut is just as expected-a country set that has some pop sensibilities. The emphasis is on some because for the most part, this album will appeal to those who loved Carrie on American Idol as well as those who love a good country album. The pop sensibility comes with such a track as the excellent "Some Hearts" which features driving guitars, slick production and Carrie rising to a high E. Despite that, Carrie sings her heart out on this appropriate title track.
On her opening track "Wasted", as with ever American Idol album, Carrie's grabs the audience's attention with a well written selection that shows off Carrie's pure upper register. That is followed by an incredibly country influenced "Don't Forget to Remember Me", which isn't a bad track, but it slightly lessens the heightened momentum created by the great "Wasted". Nonetheless, that is where "Some Hearts" and the touching first single "Jesus Take The Wheel," which is made of a stunning piano, string, and electric guitar driven arrangement, throw the album back into full swing. Other notable highlights from SOME HEARTS include "Before He Cheats" which uses a bluesy production sound mixed with the first time that I've personally heard Carrie achieve some much needed grit to her pure voice. Selections "Whenever Your Remember" and "I Ain't in Chocatoe No More" also steal the show. There are some other tracks of less notability, yet it is important to note that this album is consistent for the most part lending many great tracks besides the major ones such as "We're Young and Beautiful" and "Starts with Goodbye".
While this album has a few flaws (Carrie over sings slightly on "When you're Beautiful"), for the most part it is well produced, Carrie's pitch is impeccable, and it is just a fine, well rounded debut. Where this album is concerned- a big fat 4 stars from a non-Carrie fan for this very fine debut.
"
Impressive debut!
Allen Chapman | STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT USA | 11/15/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice were the 1st and second place winners in last years American Idol. Bo's album comes out next momth. Carrie's is here. What a fantastic album! The song selection here is pretty strong as is the production. The songs all sound like they would have fit right in on a Martina or Faith album. This does NOT sound like the winner of some TV singing contest, Carrie sounds like she's been doing this her whole life and has been given a shot at the big time. She sounds very natural through out the album. I hope "Before He Cheats" gets released as a single. The song shows a very different side of Carrie than the rest of the album. Musically it reminds me of "There Is No Arizona", lyrically, it's just scary!!! It's about a woman seeking revenge after he's cheated on her. Great song, but like they say Hell hath no fury..... Carrie clearly has a career ahead of her. This could be the start of a long running career.
"
True Review: The Review You Would Not Like To Miss
Truth | 12/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OK. I am not going to be like those kids out at the block drawing the walls, or those kids that pull off the table cloth to make the plates on the table fall. I am going to just speak the truth. I am not going to be biased or what. I am going to start off by commenting on other people's reviews. I will begin with those who gave 1 star reviews then.
There are 3 different reasons why they gave 1 star reviews.
***1st reason***---They keep comparing her and her! We really have to stop comparing Kelly with Carrie. We are supposed to review the album, not compare their albums. Kelly and Carrie are two talented singers running into different directions and paths. We can't compare their albums. Cheese fries taste good, but when you compare it with steak. There will be people who prefer steak still. But you still have to agree that fries taste good too. It's the same theory. In my opinion, at least Carrie knows that she is going to be a country singer. And she made a country album. She knows exactly who she is. I agree Kelly is great and she deserves to win. I am a true fan of Kelly's vocal too. But she doesn't know who she is. Her first album is a soulful, R&B, pop album, it carries the essence of poppy stuff. But her second one is a total rock album. How about the third one? It would most probably be Jazz, New Age, Classic album. You get it? Why do I say so? Cause she doesn't know who she is. She is always going with the flow. She sees what kind of music is famous now and she will just go into it. She saw Avril Lavigne shines in being a rocker. So she follows. Also, Kelly has gone through a whole lot more experiences than Carrie. You are actually comparing Kelly's second effort with Carrie's very first effort!
***2nd reason***---They hate Carrie because they prefer other idol finalists like Bo Bice or Anthony Fedorov. They have not even heard the songs. Not even the samples. It's easily realized as they always write reviews like `I hate her voice' or `Her voice got no emotion'. People who really listened to the album will write something like "The song Wasted is nice. The song Some Hearts is brilliant'. People who really listen to the albums know the track title. Can't believe people can still write reviews like `The song Independence Day is not nice in this album' here. The track is not even in this album. Please at least listen to the samples to write a true review of the album. Can't believe they could even compare Hilary Duff (poppy bubblegum queen) CDs with Carrie's. The are probably ruining her life by making the rating drop. Please, even if you want to cheat, create accounts with different names. Or else people can easily identified that it's from the same few ones.
***3rd reason***---They most probably really thinks that Carrie is not their cup of tea. A true artist can't make the entire world likes him or her too. So I wouldn't say anything. But just hope that you guys know that it's her very first effort. So it does consider as a good effort already. Not all artists have their debut album succeeded. That includes Kelly's.
Now, let's discuss those who gave 5 stars reviews.
***Reason***---Well. They are Carrie's fans. They probably really think it's a good album. Just like some of the 1 star reviewers could probably think it's not a good album, being not biased or what. I must also admit that there might be a few ones who gave 5 stars reviews when they are thinking of giving 3 or 4. They just want to help Carrie. Well, let's don't let this few affect anything. I would say every album's review must have a few of this kind of human beings. It's okay for me, I guess. Haha.
Now, let's talk about my opinion on the album `Some Hearts'. I would say I would repeat the tracks over and over again (cause they are all nice) except for the song `The Night Before' and `That's where It Is'. Majority of the songs are pure country music that actually carries the essence that can even appeal to pop or rock fans. It's not an album that totally has only ballads or fast songs. It's a mixture of both, and therefore it caters to both slow and fast songs lovers. Don't Forget To Remember Me would be a good example of a slow ballad song and Before He Cheats would easily represents a fast and rock song. For that, I give her a star. She's emotionally connected with the songs and her attitude and emotion just change with revise of what kind of song she's going to sing next. Another star for that. It's also not an album full of just love lines, breaking up (which most albums are doing) or loving someone. As I said, it's a mixture you see. One extra star again. She has both the voice and the looks. Her voice is so beautiful and has great range. Another star again. Not to forget, excellent personality. She knows exactly who she is and what she wants to be. One last star for her! If it's considered a rushed album, then it would be the best rushed album. If it were an American Idol winner album, then it would be the most successful one. Trust me, Simon (In fact it's all the judges) is right about what he had always commented and judged on Carrie.
In conclusion, please write true reviews. Don't base on `Oh I hate her look' or ` Oh Kelly is better'. Should be `Oh I heard the tracks and think that...' I really don't mind even if you all hate her album after LISTENING TO THE ALBUM. I just want Carrie's album to have a true rating. 5 stars for Carrie then. It's only her debut album and she did so well, good job Carrie."
Great debut cd!
Jake Z | Canada | 11/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's rare that I buy a cd and like every track, especially when it is an artist that I have had no prior knowledge of. I heard of Carrie Underwood, but I'm not a watcher of American Idol. I just knew that she won, and that she was a country girl. I read some reviews and I was curious, so I went ahead and bought the cd. I'm glad I did! I have to say I am really impressed with the songs here. Carrie has a great voice, and knows how to be emotive and powerful. The first single "Jesus, Take The Wheel" is powerful and moving. She really shines on the ballads. Other favorites I have on the cd include "Before He Cheats", "Starts With Goodbye", "Don't Forget To Remember Me", "That's Where It Is", "The Night Before (Life Goes On)", "I Ain't In Checotah Anymore", and more. Overall a great debut album... I look forward to seeing where she goes in her career!"
EXCELLENT CD FROM A SUPERIOR ARTIST !!
barry | Boston, MA United States | 11/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is so unfair that people are writing negative reviews not based on the cd and Carrie's performance but because they have another favorite Idol performer. We are not still voting here folks and don't trash it just because you may like Kelly and you're trying to snub Carrie. Review the cd and leave the other baggage for yourself.
The cd is exemplary. Carrie showed talent and ability on American Idol, but with this cd she has grown into a true artist. Her vocal range and interpretive skills are awe-inspiring.
The cd is country in the like of Leanne Rimes and Faith Hill. It is SOOO much better than Faith's last cd. Favorite songs - WASTED, DON'T FORGET TO REMEMBER, SOME HEARTS, LESSONS LEARNED and many more.
I love this cd all the way through. Finally a cd by an AM performer that doesn't sound like you're listening to subpar wannabees. And what I may think of Kelly doesn't matter. Carrie Underwood has far surpassed being a mere AM winner and become a true star. She has a long career ahead."