Album review: Carrie Underwood's 'Play On'

If there's a slam-dunk aspect to Carrie Underwood's third album, it's that she's handed her "American Idol" benefactors a theme song for the next episode of "Idol Gives Back." That song is "Change," an exercise in social responsibility that challenges the listener to stay open to the possibility that a small gesture can make a big difference.

Underwood puts that idea across convincingly -- it's one that also would do wonders for her music. Unfortunately, there are no small gestures here. As on 2007's "Carnival Ride," Underwood and producer Mark Bright lunge for one climactic crescendo after another at the expense of vocal nuance, lyric subtlety and even aural clarity, thanks to the excessive sonic compression again applied to most tracks. 

Of course, the same formula has helped her sell more albums than any other "Idol" alum, but "Play On" exhibits a distressing lack of dimension for a singer with Underwood's obvious abilities.

There's another "Before He Cheats"-style tale of vengeance ("Songs Like This") and a red-flag warning about lowlifes in the album's first single ("Cowboy Casanova"). And can someone please institute a two-year moratorium on songs built on greeting-card philosophizing ("Temporary Home")?

That's one of seven songs Underwood gets lead co-writing credit on here, and while it's encouraging to see her more fully contributing to what she sings, it would be more rewarding if she'd explore less thoroughly trod ground, a problem that also hampers "Play On," which closes the album. 

It's an earnest, albeit cliché-heavy, stab at keep-your-chin-up encouragement: "You're gonna make mistakes / It's always worth the sacrifice."

Come to think of it, sounds like an ideal choice for the weekly exit music on the next season of "American Idol." 

-- Randy Lewis 

Carrie Underwood
Play On
19 Recordings/Arista Nashville
Two stars (Out of four)

Comments

[Michelle]

Disagree Completely with this snarky, sloppy review. This album is incredible in every way! Carrie has never sounded better vocally, and her songwriting has improved greatly. Temporary Home is a beautiful song and if you can't appreciate it, you clearly do not get it at all. Cowboy Casanova ROCKS, and the ballads are just beautiful. Carrie just can't get a break from you snarky critics, who worship the truly talentless Taylor Swift who can't sing on key to save her life. Your cynicism and bias Against Carrie is so obvious in this review. This is the best album of the year by far. Go Carrie!

[Devin Core]

you should correct the misstatement in your article. She is not the best selling idol, as Kelly Clarkson is. She is the second best selling idol alum, and that's only in the U.S. Just a little helpful information!

[TeamCarrie]

Disagree completely. This album is Carrie's best yet, and her vocals have never sounded better. She put her heart and soul into this, and you rip it apart in one snarky, thoughtless paragraph that missed the point and brilliance of every song. The production is actually subtle and much improved from her last album. Just because you may not be a spiritual person or get the meaning of Temporary Home, does not make it trite. It is a beautiful song with great meaning to millions of people. Do not trash Carrie just because she dares to express her beliefs in God. Unbelievable.

[Samantha]

Seriously??? 2 out of 4 stars. Ugh! Give me a break! I believe Carrie did an amazing job as an artist on this album. This album is amazing. I encourage everyone to give her album a listen. I like the encouraging music. It's positive and uplifting. I relate to her music. I like it how she changes up her music. Whatever, everyone has their own opinions, and different tastes in music. Watch this album ride up the charts.

[Adrian]

Randy Lewis must have been wearing ear plugs while listening to Ms. Underwood's cd. Not only is Play On Great!! its the her best album yet. Her vocals are magnificent and the lyrics really hit home. This album was well worth the wait!! and anyone who is not def would agree.

[JR Jake]

It is almost frightening to see the genesis of this beautiful young woman take shape before our eyes. Talk about a person with incredible talent and a beautiful spirit. We are all lucky to watch an 'American Idol' become America's girl next door and I for one am happy I am alive to watch her perform, especially when a person is as incredibly beautiful as Carrie.

Good luck to her and may we always encourage those who have talents to reach for the stars, because you never know what we will walk away with in our hands and hearts. Have a great day.

[JR Jake]

Not more than 2 hours ago, I wrote a complimentary piece on Carrie, but yet once again the LA Times shows what a 'hack' newspaper it is by not posting it. What is your gig?

[Karen]

I went out today and bought the CD. It doesn't disappoint. I think this review is totally off base. It's an awesome toe tapper, and I've had it on all day in my office. I love Carrie Underwood, love her music, love her voice and love her values. This is some of her best work. My suggestion to Mr. Lewis is to "Undo it" and try again. You missed the mark and Underwood fans will send this album right up the charts. I see many, many number 1's off of this one!!!!!

[Wildcat]

We still hope that Carrie will save Checotah movie theater. I don't know her personally, but I know that she is a wonderful person.
http://www.newsok.com/checotah-familys-theater-hopes-turn-sour-with-economy/article/3413557

[you]

It's really not that great. In fact Carrie isn't that great. She is way overrated if you ask me. I like her voice and she has a few good songs but overall she's nothing special. I think people are just blinded by her beauty if anything. Oh and yes to date, Kelly clarkson has sold just over 10.3 million albums in the US and over 20 million world wide. Carrie is at 9.8 million in the US right now. So no, She isn't the top selling idol in the US or in the world. Newsflash!!
:)

[KimoJames]

I do agree with Mr. Lewis' . . . "one climactic crescendo after another at the expense of vocal nuance." Country music has fallen into this terrible formula. Throw away the verse, sell the hook in the chorus.

[Anonymous]

I love Carrie, and I like the new album, but I don't think the review is exactly way off. Her vocals are amazing - as always - but I agree the songs themselves aren't that great. Maybe it's just me, but this album doesn't really do it for me, it seems like they tried too hard on a lot of songs. Don't get me wrong, there are songs on the album I love, but quite frankly as a whole , start to finish, personally the album fell a little short for me. I think Carnival Ride was better. Nonetheless, it's worth a purchase. The girl can sing, not that anyone has ever questioned that.

[Fred]

Carrie Underwood continues with her winning signature style. Her critics, such as Randy Lewis above, keep raking her for it. Thankfully, Carrie Underwood is not a female Conor Oberst. This is her best album so far and offers up a bushelful of future hit singles.

[mitchell]

Wow...you must be quite insane. This album is by far the best of the year. And Carrie Underwood is the best country artist, no questions. Her songs are uplifting, especially Temporary Home. If you cant see that this song is amazing and dont understand the meaning, then obviously you shouldnt make any rude comments on it. It has uplifted many people. You should totally rewrite this whole review, it sucks

[BB]

So is anyone just able to write an article now and have it posted on the internet now? This is the WORST album review I've ever read. If you're gonna talk crap about a CD...make sure it's for a bad CD. Carrie's 3rd album is amazing, and I've been beyond elated with my purchase since I bought it. Her vocals are even better than on her first 2, and the songs are incredibly diverse. There's so many good ones like "Quitter" "Change" Temporary Home" "Undo It"...I could name the whole frickin' album. How anyone could write a negative review is beyond me.

Seriously Randy Lewis...you need a labadomy, and should lose your job for being so inaccurate with your review.

[Paul]

Wow, couldn't disagree more on Temporary Home. I think it's a beautiful song and does and exceptional job of showcasing her vocal range.

[Kendall]

Are you out of your mind? The song, "Temporary Home" is one of Carrie's most beautiful songs. The words are very touching, especially at the end.The way she sings the line "I can see God's Face" is so touching and sweet. This is by far her best album so far and in my opinion, she gets better with each album so the next one will surely blow us away!

[Lorraine]

I am a woman - and this album is empowering. And beautiful. Strong and subtle at the same time.

And for you to reduce Temporary Home down to a greeting card analogy, not only points out the fact you are probably not a very strong person of faith but that you probably "settle" - when you actually pony up money for a card, for really bad greeting cards with sick jokes in them - or whatever.

Temporary Home brought tears to my eyes. Tears of joy.

And Mama's Song - which you don't even bother to mention. Beautiful. Highlights her voice and talent. And her SONGWRITING abilities. Which this reviewer also refuses to acknowledge.

Wow, talk about going out of one's way to totally get a review WRONG.

[Matt]

~Randy Lewis

...you are "Just A Fool". Seriously.

[rez]

Oh my... Although Carrie isn't the best selling idol in the world, she is in the US... with more than 12 million records sold.. compared to kelly 10.6 million.. still i do not condescend Kelly because i totally love her.. actually both of them! but just for a little update for all of you guys.. And for the critic.. you really are a critic, but not a good one... the review is way out of line..

[Mo]

After the barrage of low-grade music coming out recently, I thought I'd take a peek at what kind of review this album got. I've listened to it tons of times and was always impressed with the diversity of subject matter as well as the grace in which the various messages of each of the songs were conveyed. I took my hat off to Carrie who displayed sophistication without burying her youth on this album, which brings me to my shock at this review. I'm not sure what album you listened to, but I'm afraid to see what gets a good rating from you. Perhaps you wrote this on a bad day.