Carrie Underwood, 'Play On'

Release date: November 3, 2009
Record label: 19/Arista Nashville
Official Web site: http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/

The buzz: Arguably the most successful “American Idol” winner ever, Carrie Underwood has gone on to grab multiple Grammys, rule the Billboard country charts, become the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry, and make more money in the last year than any of her fellow “Idol” alums. “Play On” marks her third full-length album, and follows the record-setting sensation of her last LP, 2007’s “Carnival Ride.”

The verdict: Solid but unremarkable, “Play On” seems like a very 2009-appropriate release, full of safe bets and middle-of-the-road material. Given the sleepy country climate it's entering, this disc should have little trouble providing Underwood with further statistical accomplishments—standard strong/scorned woman lead single “Cowboy Casanova” is already breaking some records—but the artistic merits are lacking. “Undo It” and “Songs Like This” fire on similar stadium-country cylinders as “Casanova,” while nearly all of the ballads (including early mini-hit “Mama’s Song”) sputter along and sometimes simply stall out, as on “Look at Me.” At least her voice sounds great for the lumbering “Temporary Home,” but ending the album on its awful title track ultimately leaves an unpleasant ringing in the ears. Your best plan for purchasing “Play On”? Buy it digitally so you can cherry-pick the up-tempo tracks and a ballad or two, then leave the rest. That strategy will turn this middling LP into a decent EP.

Did you know? Underwood and R&B star Ne-Yo wrote a song together during the recording of this album. Shockingly, it’s not included here.

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