ALBUMS
Carrie Underwood: "Play On" 19/Arista  "Play On when your loosing the game, Play On cause your gonna make mistakes, its always worth a sacrifice even when you think you're wrong... So Play On." What a great song to sum up not only Ms. Carrie's career but this 3rd album. With Play On I was very worried that Carrie wouldnt be able to wow with the album based on all the anticipation and the success of Some Hearts & Carnival Ride. The album was very, very good and I enjoyed it. The album is so versitile and has a different taste of style in songs from the sassy Cowboy Casanova, Undo It, and Songs Like This to the love ballods like Someday When I Stop Loving You, Look At Me, & What Can I Say through the songs of hope like Change and many more great songs. With the 1st single, Cowboy Casanova already a Top 3 smash and the kick off track to the album it shows the Carrie sass to start the album that has many different flavors to it. To the following track, Quitter just is a fun love tune and it makes you think about who you love and have fun with it. Mama's Song is a very well written ballod. The song talks about a Mom letting her girl go to someone else after everything she had done for her. Change is such a lifting song to let you no you can make a difference no matter what you do and dont listen to people who say you cant. Undo It brings back more sass and it is such a fun song but it also a kinda mean song as your saying I wish I never met you kinda song but its all Carrie. Look At Me & This Time are what I call 'filler' songs but still very very well. For any other artist those songs would be a masterpiece but when it comes to Carrie they are just another song. Unapologize is another well written great song. I love the song how you can feel sympathy for someone and be all sorry and when your sick of it you want to take that apology back. What Can I Say is a great love collaboration. It showcases Carrie's vocals and writing ability. Someday When I Stop Loving You is one of the strongest tracks on the album. It talks about your leaving and you no you cant stop loving this person until somethings happen to the world that are way out of reach in the sense of you'll never stop loving. Play On is an uplifting, great song to end the album. They couldn't have picked a better closing song. Play On no matter what you go through. Carrie has done it once again! An amazing album and probably her strongest to date. Good job to Miss Carrie and this album will be another hit and I think will out pass Carnival Ride. This gets said a lot with Carrie reviews, but Carrie has a way that many artists wish they had and dont. Carrie knows what songs will sell and how to grab someone's attention! This is a gold mine for Carrie! Grade: A ***** Shawn Carter CEO, All About Music Tim McGraw: “Southern Voice” Producer: Tim McGraw, Bryon Gallimore
Tim McGraw, one of the most successful country music starts, is back in the spotlight with this new record. He has always had his own touch to his songs, a unique Tim-touch! Not to forget, his voice is distinct, which can be recognized very easily. The title track does not have the Tim-touch; it is an effort that you might expect from a new comer on his debut album! The melody is one that has been repeated constantly by many other men lately, including Brooks & Dunn. Absolutely nothing new in the song. What is more of a repellant factor is that McGraw is highlighting the factor that he has a “southern voice”. Tim honey, you have been in the music business for about 17 years now: we get that! “Forever Seventeen” is an absolutely beautiful song that lacks a little of a country touch, but Tim’s emotion-filled voice fills in the gaps. Lyrically striking with, yet again, McGraw’s story-telling tone, “Love You, Goodbye” dips you into an emotional sea of tears. One of the most compelling songs on the album is “You Had to Be There”, describing a son’s life without his father, his mother trying to raise him on her own; upon the father’s stepping-into-the-picture, the son accuses him of leaving his mother and himself a long time back. “Mr. Whoever You Are” is simply an artistically written song, a narration of a woman who is involved in marital relations with every man she gets on her hands. Another song (“Still”), that describes a person’s ideal place to be, the perfect ‘heaven’, has nothing very special about it considering the topic, but it’s just the magic in the artist’s voice that hits you. However, there are a few weak tracks on the album like “I Didn’t Know It At The Time”, that lack a bit of creativity and the professional talent that Tim possesses. This also included the album-filler “Good Girls”, which could have been a fun and upbeat song. The record on the whole lacks some of the country spells that Tim’s music has had. But at the same time, it might also be brought into consideration that times are changing a bit in the country music world. So with that in mind, McGraw has made a tremendous effort on this album, still having his voice ripe with passion and sentiments that make all songs marvelous. Fantastic! **** Momin Masood, All About Music Site Editing Master |
SINGLES Jimmy Wayne: "Sara Smile" Producer: Dann Huff  Jimmy Wayne’s latest single is a cover of the Hall & Oates’ original song of that title. Before beginning the analysis of the song, I must add that I haven’t heard the Hall & Oates’ version of the song (and yes, that must be a sacrilege!), and that I am reviewing this song as itself without comparison. The only parts that suggest the song being country is the starting music and the one in the last thirty to forty seconds of the song. The chorus is simply a composition of RnB music with some Pop touch to it. Over here, the music plays the role of a complete turn-off because even though Wayne’s vocals are really great, they don’t have any country touch to it, neither the twang nor a heavy anchor hanging with it like George Strait or Alan Jackson. Keeping Wayne’s vocal quality in mind, the song should have been a composition of fiddles and violins and banjos or whatever it is that would make the song belong to the country genre. With covering this song, it seems more of an effort to cross over to other genres with only one song, adding only a handful of country-sounding-seconds to it just to say “I am a country artist”. If this was an effort to reach to a wider audience Mr. Wayne (and certainly not Bruce Wayne!), then it was a successful and clever attempt. But if he sung it to say he is a country artist, sorry but you’re on the wrong track! Jimmy Wayne can certainly produce country songs despite the kind of voice he has. He just needs to find the right formula to reach to a wider audience. Grade D Carrie Underwood "Temporary Home" 19/Arista  Carrie Underwood returns with the 2nd single off Play On. The follow-up to her #1, Cowboy Casanova Carrie shows us another site to her songwriting with this ballod. The song itself is lyrically a masterpiece. The story of a little foster boy knowing that where he is is going to be his Temporary Home and unto the story of a Mom and her young daughter going from shelter to houses for their place. Than, we all see it coming the story of an old man in a hospital bed knowing that here on Earth was his Temporary Home and Heaven is his home. This song is true down to the meaning in everyday life. It is a pure Country ballad and Carrie co-wrote and sang the vocal beautifully. Carrie sure hit this one home and people will probably note it as an inspiration tune like Jesus, Take The Wheel & So Small. Carrie has made her way one of the brightest Female artists in the music industry today. This single shows what Country music is about and shows what Carrie is about! Grade: A+ Charlie Baker, All About Music Executive Manager Gary Allan
 Allan’s somewhat ‘broken’ vocals add a feeling to this song! The song talks about a man (Gary Allan) regretting not proposing to the love of his wife, since now it is too late for that: ‘today’, she is married to another man. Even though the song is lyrically not any masterpiece or a unique written song, it still might be liked by many people and also may be a little radio friendly. But not quite… The track is supported by weak music composition that does not even strike you as much. From an audience’s point of view, people may like the song at first, and listen to it a few times, but they will eventually, and for surely, get tired of listening to it. There are no ‘sparks’ in the song that make you go, “Ok, this song is truly amazing! I can’t get it out of my head!” Unfortunately, it can easily be slipped out of the head. The only good thing about the song is Allan’s vocals. That is the only element of the song where you can feel some emotion. At the same time, emotions apart, his vocals on this song are not the best. Gary Allan could have done better! Grade C+ Zac Brown Band "Highway 20 Ride" Producer: Keith Stegall 
By the name itself, one might say that Zac Brown Band has released yet another upbeat, fun song that talks about driving fast in a Mercedes with a bunch of friends on Highway 20. But as soon as the song starts, it surprises one to be a ballad. It’s lyrically a little different, revolving around an issue that many, many people face everyday: finding it hard to get along with the in-laws. Well ofcourse that does come along with a few other problems too. And as the Band shows in their song, there are no such solutions to such situations. In the first verse, Brown addresses his wife, about how devastated he is to leave her, just because of his mother-in-law. In the second one, he talks to his son, apologizing about leaving due to forceful circumstances. Lyrically being beautiful filled with regret yet a pressurized state, the Band also deliver a melancholy vocal that make the audience quite mellow. Moreover, the violin in between just hits your heart right. The last time such a beautiful violin was heard was when the Dixie Chicks used to play it in their songs, which always did its magic of capturing the hearts of people. The Zac Brown Band has done a clever job, keeping people waiting for a unique turn! Simply brilliant! Grade A+ Momin Masood, All About Music Site Editing Master Brad Paisley "American Saturday Night" Arista 
Purely Brad Paisley Brad is back and follows up Welcome To The Future. This song is definately the sound of Brad Paisley that we all love. American Saturday Night talks about just a fun American Saturday Night and it is such a fitting album title and such a fun song. Brad can take his music wherever he wants. Back Then, to the Future, and right in the present with a Saturday Night. Brad is definately a deserving winner of his latest CMA trophee. Its songs like this that define Brad Paisley and make everyone love him even more. The writers did a great job and Brad sings it great as well. Perfect! Grade: A Deena Callister, President All About Music Keith Urban Capitol  Keith Urban returns with his 4th single off Defying Gravity. 'Til Summer Comes Around is a fitting ballad to be released at this time of year. This Keith Urban ballod talks about the story of a love gone bad and having to wait until summer and memories are still with you. Keith is known for his fun songs and now 2 ballods back to back the next one definately needs to be fun. In this stort review, Keith releases another good single. I wouldnt say it is a great single like Once In A Lifetime, Kiss A Girl and others. This is not Keith Urban at his best but he still shows his vocal ability and it will be a Top 10 smash. Grade: B Charlie Baker, All About Music Executive Manager |
VIDEOS Chris Young: "The Man I Want to Be" Director: Chris Hicky  Chris Young's latest video isn't that much of a bad effort. The video starts interestingly with a conversation. And adding talks to music videos gives the whole output a certain edge. According to the lyrics of the song, there isn't much action that could be shown. And Chris Hicky should be praised for his creativity quite much! Usually, for a song like this, the man would be shown playing his guitar in his empty, dark home, being very morbid, and his ex also very melancholy. But showing such things for a whole 3 to 4 minutes is a waste of good time! All events, how they lead to the final unity of the two beloved ones seems quite interesting, although it must be added that more events and signs could have made the video a little more like-able. But still - Good job! Grade A Darius Rucker: "HIstory In The Making" Director: Shane Drake  Darius Rucker nails video #4! History In The Making is a great follow-up to CMA New Artist, Darius Rucker's Alright. This song is a ballod with some tempo on just love and how these memories will make your history of what you remember. The video hit right on the point of the song. Now, of course the video could have been a lot more but for budget reasons they pulled this video off pretty well. The director really just caught moments of a couple that we're living their history. The song tells it in its own. This was probably a really easy video to make and it was still a good one. Not the best Darius video, but all of his have been really simple and maybe thats how he likes it. Darius has sure paved his path in Country music with golden diamonds. What a great star he is and he will do just fine in the industry. Grade: B+ Deena Callister, All About Music President Jason Aldean: "The Truth" Director: Deaton-Flanigen 
Aldean does it! The video starts off with Jason Aldean sitting on a bench, with a paper in his hand and waiting for a bus to arrive. Upon its arrival, he climbs into the almost empty bus, watching couples sharing intimacies. Then, reaching his destination, he checks in into a motel, throws his bag in his room and walks towards the swimming pool where children are cheerfully enjoying their childhood and a laughing couple coming by as well. But even though he is around such joyful and happy people, Aldean maintains an almost expressionless face, which signifies melancholy, almost as if he did not want to ‘escape’ his everyday world but had to due to pressurizing circumstances. The video on the whole is very satisfying, with constant chain of events and every scene offering something new. However, the end may be considered a little drag, that is, when the storm comes. But at the same time, the increasing intensity of it might be taken as a symbol of sadness, depression, or whatever other words can be associated with it. Moreover, if you come to think of it, if there would have been another event in the video, maybe another couple enjoying some time with their kids, that might have been just a filler, without having any such use, leaving the video somewhat open ended. Great work! Grade A+ Momin Masood, All About Music Site Editing Master |
