Ever since her days on American Idol: Season 4, Carrie Underwood has been a huge inspiration on the country-pop music scene. Underwood’s three hit albums— 2005’s Some Hearts, 2007’s Carnival Ride, and 2009’s Play On— have together turned a small-town girl from Oklahoma into a multi-platinum selling recording artist. Underwood’s newest album, Blown Away, is her first album in three years; and now the time has come to judge whether or not the Idol alum still has her signature country-girl twang.
The first single to be released off of Blown Away was “Good Girl,” and it is probably the best anthem on the album. The sassy, bad-girl lyrics are feisty and full of that country-pop sound we all know and love. As for the title track, “Blown Away”, it starts as a slow, heartfelt ballad, but then transforms into a passionate tune that is clearly worth a listen or two. As the album switches back and forth from livelier romps to calm ballads, we find several songs that are hidden jewels in this country-pop masterpiece. “See You Again” is definitely the best track by far. It’s a beautiful tear-jerker that has a perfect touch of emotion mixed with reality. So is “Good in Goodbye”, which earns its spot as the second best track. It is also very sentimental, but somehow slower and more heartfelt than “See You Again.” Then there is “Cupid’s Got a Shotgun”, with none other than country heartthrob Brad Paisley in the background on guitar. This track is rough and tough around the edges, but it has more of a spunky, rocker, country vibe, which makes it a memorable one on Blown Away.
Aside from these front-runners, the album is studded with other country-pop gems like “Do You Think About Me”, “Nobody Ever Told You”, “Leave Love Alone”, and “Forever Changed.” The first three are similar, but a different country twist is added to each one. “Do You Think About Me” has predictable lyrics, but it is a sweet ballad that still has that catchy southern tune. “Nobody Ever Told You” is more upbeat than the others and showcases a classic country melody that all country fans love. Seemingly a sequel to the previous two, “Leave Love Alone” confesses about being addicted to love and has quite a distinct sound, making it stand out from the others. The slowest song of the bunch, “Forever Changed”, is as calm, as peaceful, and as hopeful as any country ballad possibly can be, and it is said to bring Underwood to tears almost every time she sings it.
“Two Black Cadillacs” may seem like the perfect rock anthem to go along with “Cupid’s Got a Shotgun”, but it is actually soft and the complete opposite of what one would expect. Not Underwood’s best work, but not her worst, to say the least. “Wine After Whiskey” is a lot better, making creative references to the title beverages and comparing them to a failed relationship. Underwood’s vocals are perfect in this, providing the achingly emotional finishing touch on the record. Finally, the most different track from Blown Away is “One Way Ticket”. When one first listens to it, they may be confused as they hear the reggae and country-pop sounds all mixed into one breezy track, making them wonder if Bob Marley may have recorded a duet with Carrie Underwood.
Blown Away is definitely a reflection of Carrie Underwood’s top-notch vocals. Underwood’s stunning vocals are impressive, and the fact that she co-wrote 14 of the album’s songs further showcases her talent. After the release of Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, and Play On— which can be very hard to compete with— fans may have worried whether or not Carrie Underwood’s next album would prove as successful as the rest. However, Blown Away does not disappoint, and being a member of the Grand Ole Opry makes it a whole lot easier for Carrie Underwood.
