After being American Idol's first country winner in 2005, Carrie Underwood transformed from an Oklahoma sweetheart to a country superstar. After her debut album, Some Hearts, sold over 300,000 copies in its first week before reaching sextuple platinum status, Carrie Underwood became the first country singer to reach such a success on a debut album since LeAnn Rimes in 1996.Underwood's new album, Carnival Ride was released October 23, 2007 and became her first No.1 album on the U.S. Billboard 200 and sold 527,000 copies in its first week. Underwood stayed strong vocally and lyrically on her sophomore album and it's a must have for fans.
Carnival Ride opens with a true country tune called "Flat on the Floor," showing off Underwood's range and powerful signature vocals. The lyrical and vocal combination in the song portrays a sense of urgency into the song, which gives the angry lyrics credibility. As the first song listeners hear, it foreshadows the intensity and sets the mood for the rest of her album.
The second track, "All-American Girl" is a sharp contrast to "Flat on the Floor," beginning with gentle guitar and percussion and Underwood's sweet voice telling a story of an "All-American Girl."
"So Small", the albums top selling single on itunes, continues the country feel while Underwood's voice sends a powerful message about looking at the bigger picture of your own individual problems. The lyrics give a feeling of being small, in turn making listeners think about their own lives. With sharp contrasts between the first three songs, Underwood does not suffer from repetition, giving the album an excellent sound.
Hearts better.