Review: Carrie Underwood, 'Play On'
Carrie Underwood's third album, "Play On," is a slickly produced collection of polished country-pop. Did you expect anything less? Since winning Season 4 of "American Idol," Underwood has become a full-on powerhouse, nipping at Kelly Clarkson's heels for the title of most successful "Idol" (on the sales front, "Play On" should put her over the top). Underwood's not about to rock the boat -- "Play On" is her safest album yet -- but she takes more control this time, co-writing seven of the album's 13 tracks, including the Bon Jovi-esque first single "Cowboy Casanova." Some songs veer too far into "Idol Gives Back" territory, such as the preachy "Change," which judges people for not giving loose change to the homeless. And the sassy offerings, "Undo It" and "Songs Like This," don't have quite as much zip as "Before He Cheats" or "Last Name." But on the Max Martin-penned "Quitter," Underwood hits her stride, playing up the pop half of her country-pop style, and selling it with her down-home charm. You wish she'd take more risks -- her Motley Crue and George Michael covers for "Idol" were eye-openers -- but on "Play On" she plays right down the middle.
GRADE: B
