The Review

Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Mosaic

Media Credit: Amazon.com

"Carnival Ride"
Carrie Underwood
Arista Records
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Since her stint on "American Idol" in 2005, Carrie Underwood has been one of the only winners to have serious commercial success with a debut album and a Grammy Award under her belt. Underwood's second album "Carnival Ride" proves she isn't just another cookie-cutter teenybopper, but a talented and soulful artist.

The album starts off with a bang with "So Small," which showcases Underwood's powerful voice and feel-good lyrics she wrote herself, such as, "When you figure out love is all that matters after all / It sure makes everything else seem so small."

"Last Name," a less sentimental track with in-your-face lyrics similar to "Before He Cheats," is more fun and upbeat. Underwood sings, "Then it turned into 'Oh no! What have I done?' / And I don't even know his last name."

The songs are a mixture of fun, soul, warmth and vivacity and her strong and enchanting voice is constant throughout the album.Underwood's traditional country tracks and pop/rock style combine to make "Carnival Ride" everything a country album should be.

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