Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is no objectionable content in these (mostly) love songs by a recent American Idol favorite. There is some assumed Christianity on "Jesus Take the Wheel."
Families listening together can talk about the importance of vocal delivery in putting a song across, and what distinguishes this album from most of the other Idol spinoffs.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Carrie Underwood, the pretty Oklahoma girl with the big voice who stole millions of hearts on American Idol, has made history of sorts. Unlike most of the debut albums by show winners and runners-up, SOME HEARTS appears to have been produced with expectations above and beyond marketing only to Idol fans. The songwriting and production values are all first-class -- we already knew the singing would be terrific –- to the point that Some Hearts would hold up nicely in the country-pop arena even without the benefit of Carrie's contest-winner connection.
The content is predictable and pretty tame. A lot of heartbreak and lost love, a little Jesus, and one visceral woman-scorned song ("I dug my key into the side of his pretty little four-wheel drive...maybe next time he'll think before he cheats") make for typical country-pop fare without much message, or much risked. The songs are strongly written, beautifully performed and produced, with that glossy veneer we're all so accustomed to hearing on country radio.
Underwood gives every song her all, and if you were in the mood to nitpick, you might grow a little weary of that full-tilt, over-the-top delivery on song after song. But she has a great voice, a lot of presence, and gives it her all.
She also got very lucky, because unlike many of her Idol predecessors (Ruben Studdard comes to mind) her record label also gave their all on this surprisingly good debut.
Fans of Carrie Underwood might also like fellow Idol Bo Bice, the Dixie Chicks and the CD American Idol: Season 4: The Showstoppers.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentThere's some gooey love stuff, but nothing explicit. |
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ViolenceOne "woman-scorned" revenge song takes it out on the guy's car. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorA palatable, gentle "Jesus saves" message on one or two songs. Non-Christian families' mileage may vary. |
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CommercialismAmerican Idol tie-in. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoWhiskey is mentioned, just once. |
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