Editorial Review

Unquestionably one of rock’s greatest vocalists, Rod Stewart should have titled this album Read more

Reviews (75)

ITS A HEARTACHE, BONNIE TYLER WINS 100%
HELL this cd is just trash. Mess of every single cover. I say Rods covers of Its a heartache and have you ever seen the rain are so bland. Go for BONNIE TYLER's versions. She maybe a chick, but by god she is the goddess of rock. More gutsey versions that Rod. I have to say i reckn Rod is paying the record company to release this rubbish. I couldnt rate under 1 star, bugger

Actually remarkable
This is as awful as his days in Faces were just bloody brilliant.
Where is Rod?
Where has Rod Stewart gone?This is so bad that I couldn't even finish listening to the CD.I am such a big Rod Stewart fan, but I think his glory days are over. I have had my fill of his remakes at this point.Don't waste your money on this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. England    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (300)

This is a MUST-HAVE CD for those that love beautiful, easy listening music!
An absolutely beautiful CD by the most beautiful voice in the industry
If You Like Clay's Voice .....
If you like Clay's voice, you are going to hear it front & center on this CD.It's easy to listen to .... whether it's in the background while you're going about your day or playing full blast. Each song sounds different & Clay's take on the covers on this CD sound nothing like the originals.Speaking of originals there are 4 on this CD & 1 very special song, Lover All Alone, co-written by Clay with David Foster on Itunes only. This CD is good !!
Beautiful
This CD is positively beautiful. Yes it has classic tunes and yes they are wonderful(for me they are better than the original). The arrangements are great and Mr. Aiken's voice is superb.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Pop    3. Pop Vocals    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (284)

VERY OVERRATED........
I just don't get all the praise for this cd.I approached this project very enthusiastically and was very disappointed.
I was questionable...
At first I wasnt sure what to expect from Christina this time around but she gave me a HUGE surprise with Back to Basics. The first cd is just as good as the 2nd. I must say that the 2nd disc inspired me to go to church! LOL thats how good her vocals are. She is inspiring and proves that she belongs in the music industry for years to come. Good job

A remarkable CD set. Great songs, great voice, andgreat spirit.
This is a truly remarkable CD set. I grew up listening to Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Motown singers (no, I'm not that old, I was just the guy dressed like a punk rocker, and liking the Sex Pistols, but actually loving classic Jazz, Blues, and R&B best after being introduced to them by a guy I became friendly with who was a music teacher). It is fairly remarkable to see this diminutive woman and pop phenom known for her slightly raunchy Hip-Hop songs show her true range. From the first time I heard Aguilera several years ago I thought: "This woman really has a set of pipes, I wonder if she'll ever begin to explore her full range." Well she has, and the result is wonderful. I have a feeling it must have been infuriating for her to be in the shadow of that Spears chick, the fellow Mouseketeer, who was all package but really didn't have the voice or style to sing anything real in any idiom. Aguilera pays homage to her antecedents; the numbers stylized versions, some deliberately recorded to simulate the kind of "in the can" sound you encounter when you hear an old Tin Pan Alley classic. Still, these songs remain hers. I am quite astounded. I doubt this album will appeal to many people much over forty. I think even octogenarians would be rocking in their walkers, if they gave it a chance, but that probably won't happen. What I hope is that Aguilera's fan base in their teens and early twenties will be inspired to listen to songs like Dinah Washington's version of "Cry Me a River" or Billie Holiday's "Mean To Me" and know where Aguilera is really coming from. Aguilera is a student of the Masters who came before her (she lays this out so well in the Hip-Hop styled intro), yet she can also deliver the goods. It gives me real hope. Not everything in the music business is, in the end, prepackaged, and there are those out there still carrying the torch and passing it on. Kudos to Aguilera! She may be a tiny woman, but she has a giant voice, and a real spirit. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Dance-Pop    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Urban   

Editorial Review

Approach Aaron Neville's Read more

Reviews (15)

For me a little Aaron Neville goes a long way
When I came across "Bring It On Home..The Soul Classics" I found that I simply could not resist.Here were 13 of the most memorable tunes in the history of soul being sung by a man who has been at his craft for more than 40 years.Sounded like a sure winner to me.Rather what I found was a disc that I would have to describe as a bit of a disappointment. This one is simply not all that it is cracked up to be.
Liquid honey....
is Neville's voice.I recently saw him at a local venue, where he performed a lot of the music on this fine CD.I hadn't purchased any Neville music since his great jazz memories album, "Nature Boy" -- but I went right out and bought this.Neville's not afraid to remake Sam Cooke or Percy Sledge, and his take on "Stand By Me" and with Chris Botti's trumpet on a new mix for "Rainy Night In Georgia" permeate your thoughts and just about make you forget the originals.Neville did this CD as a tribute to Katrina victims, and his own family's difficulties as the result of the storm.A consummate performer, with a voice that just doesn't quit, Neville is even more at home with sould classics than he is with gospel or jazz.Run, don't walk, to buy this CD!

Cover Songs With A Twist
There are quite a few albums lately with artists covering songs already made famous by other artists. This is one of the better ones because it's a totally new interpretation of older hits. It kicks off with the classic 'Rainy Night In Georgia' and you've never heard it done like this before. With the different arrangements, etc, it's totally awesome as is "Dock Of The Bay'. Neville's falsetto can be sometimes quite annoying but he keeps it slightly under wraps here. An album worth buying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. New Orleans R&B    3. Pop    4. Pop-Soul    5. R&B    6. Soul/R & B   

Editorial Review

Nothing changes folks like babies and war, and since the release of their last album, 2002's Read more

Reviews (951)

Man the Dixie Chicks suck
The Dixie Chicks are whiny losers, and I hate them. Natalie Maines is a pig, and she has a major attitude problem. I hate their new music, and I don't even like Bush. If I saw Natalie Maines I'd yell at her and tell her she sucked because she does. Do not buy this cd. It's bad music, and there a million better things to spend money on than supporting crappy people and paying good money for bad crappy music.
Ya just don't get it...
do ya Natalie? The problem isn't your extreme dislike of Bush. The issue is your self indulgence - your insistence on stating your political opinions to a captive, PAYING audience. People are touchy about that kinda thing. Maybe they went a little overboard in their criticism. But they pay to hear you sing, NOT to hear about your politics. You're the Dixie Chicks - three of the most talented women ever to grace the music industry. So stop whining, get over it, and move ahead.

Let the music do the talking
As a father of an American girl, all I can say is "thank you."These girls rock.The attitude that is so blatant in the lyrics of the debut track is dripping from every note played on this album.This is the attitude I want my girl to have when she has to stand up to adversity. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Adult Contemporary    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Country-Pop    6. Neo-Traditionalist Country    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Janet Jackson opens her much-hyped, post-wardrobe-malfunction return to the studio with the following proclamation: "I've covered a lot in my 20 years, and I've uncovered a lot in my 20 years." There's a pause, then a giggle. And then comes an honest breakdown of this disc's DNA: "I want to have fun," chimes Janet (or J., or Miss Jackson if you're nasty and can remember that far back). Fun, then, is what we get. With a light heart, a light vocal touch, and no shortage of quips and unstaged-sounding between-song cut-ups, Janet and her Jermaine Dupri-helmed posse pull together a Sunday afternoon picnic of a disc: "Enjoy," among Read more

Reviews (224)

Breathe, Feel Sensual, Imagine It Or Make It Happen!
While the years have passed and artists have come and gone few have remained but a few. Janet Jackson has been around longer than most and this album is her celebration of how she's covered a lot in her 20 years. This CD is about having fun, not being serious, and just feeling great!
JANET'S BACK!!!
hey i just bought this cd from here, got it today... i must say ur reviews did help me in this purchase. I was not always a big fan , but i do love her older work Rhymthm nation and velvet rope are my favs. This cd is very good and quite surprising to me., because i was not fond of the single call on meat first but it grew on me and it was not till i heard so excited that i was interested in buying this cd. So u should definitly pick this up!!! U wont be sorry:)
One of Janet's best
For the first time since her "Control" album Janet Jackson uses Executive Producers other than Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; Jermaine Dupri takes the lead role this time around. I have Janet's entire disography so you can trust me when I say that this is one of her best albums to date. The lyrics aren't really deep or profound, the production isn't the best in the world, and she's very breathy with her voice, but there's something special about it. The album sticks with the listener long after hearing the tracks. Typically, a Janet Jackson album has some depth to it, some social issues, abuse, or even "taking control", but the subject matter on this album is very light. This is probably her simpliest album lyrically.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Contemporary R&B    3. Rock/Pop    4. United States of America    5. Urban   

Editorial Review

Born to be mild? Amos Lee's sophomore effort for Blue Note follows firmly in the gentle guitar strums of his well-received 2005 debut and opening slots for Norah Jones and Bob Dylan. Little has changed the second time around, which will come as a relief to those enthralled by his first release. He remains a sensitive sort, mixing his insightful, reflective lyrics with lovely, unforced melodies played by backing musicians that stay on low boil. These tunes go down as smoothly as hot chocolate on a cold day, yet Lee brings an unassuming sincerity to the proceedings with his cozy, amiable voice. Comparisons to Bill Withers and James Taylor are accurate if inevitable, but when the gospel organ quivers into "Skipping Stone," it's clear Lee isn't stuck in a folk-pop rut.Read more

Reviews (12)

Great Follow Up CD to "Amos Lee"
I love this CD. I love the fact that Amos Lee is the type of artist who is true to his music and although he may not be considered "mainstream", music lovers will "get him" and his style. Sometimes, as I listen to the music of today,I get dishearted because I find no value in the music, no artistry. Well, "Supply and Demand" confirms to me that their is still real,thought provoking, moving,engaging,and creative artists around.Like his previous CD "Amos Lee", I love the lyrics in the songs."Shout Out Loud" is a great song to open with, and my teenagers ask me to play it over and over again...I have many favorites, including "Shout Out Loud", "Skipping Stone", "Supply and Demand", "Sweet Pea" ...o.k., I love the whole CD....In an age where you may get 1 or 2 songs on a CD that you really like, this CD is filled with songs you will love...Buy it, then enjoy!!!!
Superb
This CD is a great follow up to his last CD. There are very few artists with the originality that Amos Lee has. If you enjoy any folk or easy listening this is a definite must to add to your collection.

This is an entertaining new CD from Amos Lee
I love this new CD from Amos Lee.The first single is entitled Shout Out Loud.This song really puts me in a great mood.His guitar playing is so energetic here.My favorite track is Long Line Of Pain though.It is a beautiful song about personal loss and loneliness. Sympathize is an another highlight on this disc.Amos Lee's subtle voice is filled with compassion for people who are down on their luck.Southern Girl is Amos' tribute to thecharm of a girl from the south.Night Train is a very pretty love song. Skipping Stone is a bluesy sounding song about trying to move on after the loss of a loved one.Freedom is an interesting track.It is a reminder that the pursuit offreedom should not lead to violence.The lyrics of this song are true and thought provoking. Sweet Pea is a simple and sweet song about coming home to someone special.Careless is an excellent song about the betrayal of a friend.I love the feeling of loss and sense ofhurt in Amos' voice on this track. Supply and Demand is a very entertaining CD by a talented young musician and song writer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Over the last seven years, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris quietly recorded an album by stealing "a few precious hours of studio time here and there," as the ex-Dire Straits singer/guitarist puts it. Good thing they kept it largely under wraps--expectations would have pushed through the clouds, especially as Knopfler conjured 10 of the 12 cuts, and Harris, who writes potently, but little, contributed two ("Love and Happiness," "Belle Starr"). Yet now that it's here, Read more

Reviews (186)

Knopfler and Harris All the Road Running
I just LOVE this CD.the harmonies are good.I like most of the songs but for a couple.I highly recommend it.

A must have gem
Who would have thought? A queen of folk/ country teaming up with a british rocker.Think again!!!!It has happened before,I'm sure.Who cares?What matters is this wonderful jewel gone CD thought up by Emmylou and Knopfler.Consider the marital romp"This is us".You tap to it as you listen to the borderlinish tongue-in-cheek lyrics.Then you have "Donkey Town"an unifinished story whose end you yearn to figure out ..Then,the bluesy ballad"Right Now".Well,just play it and see how wonderful this work is.

Thoughtful
This is a fine album that comes with great melodies, fine guitar playing, vocals with feeling, and interesting poetry. I don't know if I would call it a classic, but it certainly combines some of the best talents of two exceptional artists in a blend that works wondrously well. "All the Roadrunning" seems to ask the question of whether a musician's career is worth the pain. The answer is apparently yes as long as the dream remains. "Donkey Town" is an interesting story that makes you want to learn "the rest of the story". Although Knopfler's guitar work is exceptional, and Emmylou's vocals are as clear as daybreak, it's the lyrics that really make this whole record enjoyable for me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Country-Rock    3. Folk-Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

One of the most common complaints about musicals is that the books are flimsy pretexts from which to hang numbers. Read more

Features

• Cast Recording

Reviews (652)

Best Show on Broadway
I saw this musical last year, and thought it was amazing!!! The music is unbelivable!!!! Idina Menzel and kristin Chenoweth are wonderful, two of the best voices I've ever heard.If you like musicals, then you HAVE to get this CD.I've almost worn it out.

Not Necessarily Wicked!
I was excited about getting this compact disc about Wicked, the hottest ticket on Broadway. I liked the beginning about how the witch was born green. I think the compact disc does serve a service in providing us a closer view of the musical itself. I didn't care for the story involving Glinda, the good witch, and Elfaba, the bad witch who is green. I didn't like the story itself. While I am sure that the musical is much better than just listening to it but I was uncomfortable with Elfaba's portrayal as being born green and bad while Glinda was both popular and pretty. I think I was just more sympathetic towards Elfaba because she was the outcast and I always find myself among the outcasts so I felt sorry for Elfaba. I don't find much sympathy for Glinda who has spent her entire life being both popular and gifted so of course, she doesn't change. She gets rewarded while poor Elfaba gets treated as bad.

The Best Musical EVER.
I'm the kind of person that listens to showtunes all of the time. Seriously. Wicked is what made me that kind of person. The first time I had ever heard it was my first year doing choir, and ever since then, I've loved it. It's got amazing songs and two of the best musical theatre actressess to ever be on stage, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. So if you love musicals, this is the CD to buy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cast Recordings    2. Music Theater    3. Musical Theater    4. Musicals    5. Original Cast Recordings    6. Original Score    7. Pop    8. Show Tunes    9. Showtunes / B'way   

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Pop    3. Pop Vocals    4. Pop/Rock    5. Soft Rock    6. United States of America    7. Vocal   

Reviews (13)

Almost!
I have always been a sucker for Sarah and so glad they stuck with the original duets like Jose Cura's (my favorite tenor oozing with great machismo) and Andrea Bocelli.My only complaint is the Phantom of the Opera with Steve Harley (who is he?)Pardon me, I don't want to be mean but this is soooo horrific, let alone it was on track no. 1.What a terrible thing to start the cd.When I play cd, I skip no. 1 and the rest is simply divinely Sarah.I would have seen soooo tickled if she dueted Phantom with Gerard Butler (another macho cutie pie).

Good
Well, being a fan of Sarah Brightman since her Phantom days says that I liked this album,it is not her best album, but its a good singles album and for new fans to get to know her better.She always and mainly have themes in her albums, for example, FLY, more pop sounding, TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE, more classical, or just songs from Webber, but this album is just her songs from past albums.so its good to that part.

Sarah Brightman La Diva
This is an amazing CD for new fans and for your collection if you are a fan yet, the songs are carefully selected for being a great CD!! A question of honour is different from the Fly CD, if you are a Sarah's fan this CD is perfect, if you don't you will be a Sarah's fan!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. England    3. Musicals    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals    6. Rock/Pop    7. Show Tunes   

Editorial Review

Leave the daddy-daughter dynamics for Read more

Reviews (20)

classic Lionel!
I grew up listening to Commodores & Lionel Richie & have been waiting forever for an album like this.This is most definately a comeback album for Lionel.A must buy!
Fantastic!
I am enjoying this cd very much!I really missed you Lionel.Glad you are back.

AN EXCELLENT CD
Some are criticizing Lionel Richie for working with modern day producers and artists on this release as if he is grabbing at straws trying to find a new sound.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Contemporary R&B    3. Pop    4. R&B    5. Soul/R & B   

Editorial Review

Michael Bublé's assured debut and the tireless year of globe-trotting touring he spent promoting it elevated the 20-something Vancouver native into the first rank of pop crooner revivalists. His sophomore studio follow-up largely turns on the same formula that helped make his considerable vocal prowess so attractive to mainstream audiences, mixing the nigh flawless, if expected Sinatra-channeling ("I've Got You Under My Skin") with more playful and inviting renditions of pop standards like the Gershwin's "A Foggy Day in London Town," "Feeling Good," "Try A Little Tenderness" and Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin." But it's the eclectic mix of more contemporary material the singer seasons them with -- apt tribute to Bublé hero Bobby Darin -- that keeps him walking the narrow tightrope between artistic intrigue (a blues-tinged vamp of Holland-Dozier-Holland's "How Sweet It Is," Leon Russell's lovely "Song For You," with a guest turn by Chris Botti) and the kitsch-laden abyss ("Quando, Quando, Quando"'s Euro-centric duet with Nelly Furtado, a ring-a-ding-fling with the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" that echoes fellow Canadian crooner/rival Matt Dusk's more successful flirtation with Lennon-McCartney). Arranger/producer Tommy LiPuma offers Bublé a welcome swinging jazz showcase on "The More I See of You," a bracing respite from the rest of producer David Foster's slick, if typically bloodless MOR production.Read more

Reviews (364)

A Rush
I rememeber the first time that I listened to this CD.I was in my car about a year ago waiting for an appointment.I would hear a new song, and I would scream with the excitement of a teenage fangirl.I love the arrangements of old standards. I love the new songs. I love the sound of the band, and most of all I love the sensuous sound of Michale Buble's voice. 10 out of 10!

Nelly, you only had to learn ONE WORD IN SPANISH.....
We loved the CD, but were disappointed when Nelly sang CUANDO CUANDO CUANDO. She only had to learn one word in Spanish, and instead of saying CUANDO (translation: when), she sang CUANTO (translation: how much), prostituting the song.
Another Great one
After thoroughly enjoying the DVD/CD release, "Caught in the Act," I also gave this CD a listen to by Buble, the second album of his that I have listened to. I have to give it 5 stars because I am very much impressed with and enamoured by Buble's emergence on the scene. He is a very capable vocalist and has given me a new perspective on what a jazz vocalist should sound like.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Pop    3. Pop Vocals    4. Rock/Pop    5. Standards    6. Traditional Pop    7. Vocal Jazz    8. Vocal Pop   

Reviews (142)

This Album Is A Triumph.
Every Track Delivers The Majesty Of This Musical Giant. Every song on the CD emotionally moved me. Listening to it really made me think about certain things and to be honest helped me make life-changing changes in my life. His beautiful voice captures your attention & doesn't let go.

Andrea Is Wonderful!
This new CD, Amore, is just beautiful. His music makes my heart sing!

Amazing
This CD convinced me more than ever about the flexibility, quality and capabilty unique to Andrea Bocelli's musical artistry.Since high school Spanish years, I've heard Bésame Mucho and thought it okay but a bit lame.No longer.Never has a song been performed with more sensual beauty.His rendition of Júrame is one I have to bypass when I'm driving because I'm afraid my car is going to dance right off the road.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Classical Crossover    5. Classical Vocals    6. Italy    7. Opera    8. Vocal Pop   

Reviews (13)

Very Nice Album
Boney James has once again released a superior album. James always manages to compose a fine album, and Shine is no different. This album combines upbeat and relaxing music along with exceptional sound quality and nice ballads. I would recommend Shine to any smooth jazz fan or to someone who enjoys relaxing music. Shine is a must have.

Boney is "SHINE" ing bright
Just a great CD.A lot of vocalists enhance this CD.I would say this CD rocks with great ballads, nice sax, and beautiful blending.This is one you want to throw into you CD or ipod and just sit back and enjoy!

Comes up with the goods
once again. Boney James rules. Forget about classifying the music he plays. He does what he does, and he does it well. I read a few reviews, which I only use as guides, as well you should, and then I went ahead and parted with my hard earned cash. If you like his type of groove, then you know this type of groove, and make no mistake about it-IT'S A GROOVE.Highlights are many. Sure the purist of you out there will cry out for less vocals, and I understand where you're coming from. I was a bit concerned too, until I bought the disc and listened to it. Highly enjoyable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Contemporary Jazz    3. Crossover Jazz    4. Instrumental Pop    5. Jazz    6. Jazz-Pop    7. Pop    8. Smooth Jazz    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

It is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her 22 years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognizable, blending shades of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" alone are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to such masterpieces. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit, and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience and some careful listening to artists like J.J. Cale and Shirley Horn is the knack of remaining low-key without sounding sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Bass (Upright)    3. Contemporary Jazz    4. Drums    5. Guitar (Acoustic)    6. Guitar (Electric)    7. Guitar (Steel)    8. Jazz Blues    9. Jazz Music    10. Percussion    11. Piano    12. Pop    13. Rock    14. Rock/Pop    15. Slide Guitar    16. Torch Songs    17. United States of America    18. Vocal Jazz    19. Vocals   

Editorial Review

Some singer/songwriters (think Paul Westerberg and Elliott Smith) develop their world-weariness through the unforgiving trials of passing years and the heart-breaking grind of the music business. Others (Van Morrison, Neil Young) seem to have sprung from out of nowhere with the fully formed soul of a life well-lived. Ray LaMontagne belongs with the latter. On this, his debut, LaMontagne has crafted a handful of quietly devastating meditations on life and love--and delivered them with a raspy vocal all his own. The simple, mournful lyrics of "Burn," "Shelter" and the title track recall a Hank Williams ballad, and the reserved production by alt-country/americana genius Ethan Johns (the Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon) make this a great disc for smoky Saturday nights, and rainy Sunday mornings. Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Modern Electric Blues    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Would Read more

Reviews (1278)

Our own Carrie Underwood!!!
She is the best Idol so far and some day I hope to go to the American Idol tryouts and be just like her!!!
Staying power beyond "Bubble Gum" pop....
Although I love watching new talent, I am not much for the hype of American Idol.Still, I saw enough of Carrie Underwood's performance in the competition to decide that I would give her album a shot, and it was definitely worth it!Likely intended as a country-pop album for a "younger" crowd, Carrie's first set of vocals is fun, moving, and powerful enough to cross generations.I can put this CD in and listen to it several times through before I even think about putting in something different.I find the title track to be somewhat annoying, but the rest of the effort is solid.Carrie shows us insightful hopefulness on "Wasted" and "Jesus Take the Wheel," butt-kicking authority on "Before He Cheats," and the pain of loss on "Starts with Goodbye".Overall, I think Carrie earned her AI title, and it should be interesting to see if she can reach Clarkson-like popularity.If you like Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and (of course) Kelly Clarkson, chances are you'll find at least a few tracks to love on "Some Hearts."

The best Idol debut yet, and a great pop-country cross over
It was obvious during the top 12 of the fourth season of American Idol, that if Carrie didn't win, it would have been a huge upset. Good as Bo, or any of the others may or may not have been, Carrie was never in the bottom, almost always praised, and was cut out from way back to her audition to go far. She's pretty, and has a great voice to boot too, why wouldn't she win? Well she did win it, and it should have been obvious to everyone that her debut album would be country. It was just naturally her genre from the get go, which is one reason this album suceeds. Unlike many idol contestants, Carrie knew and everyone else knew exactly what genre she fit into, so sticking to her natural genre, and throwing in some pop crossover appeal, we get Some Hearts.