Music Review: Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride

The new CD called Carnival Ride by Carrie Underwood is the country singer's second album since she won American Idol.  While I don't think Carnival Ride will be as successful as Some Hearts, musically it is stronger and more mature.  Gone are such corny tracks as Jesus Take the Wheel and Inside Your Heaven as well as the "I'm a small town girl in this big, big world" songs like I Ain't In Checotah Anymore" and Don't Forget to Remember Me.  Carnival Ride finally succeeds in leveraging Underwood's greatest asset, which is her strong, clear voice.

Like any recording, there are tracks that can't seem to measure up to the rest, but that's to be expected.  I'm not particularly fond of Feet Flat on the Floor and Twisted, but the rest are much better.  I was pleasantly surprised to listen to her cover of Randy Travis' hit I Told You So and found it to be faithful to the original without trying to "make it her own" (i.e. ruin it).

The best tracks are All American Girl, So Small and I Know You Won't.  They are good vocally and lyrically and showcase her vocal strength, especially I Know You Won't. 

The album even has a few funny "hooks" in Last Name and The More Boys I meet.

All in all, it's a very good album and is definitely worth buying.