Disco de Deana Carter: “Everything's Gonna Be Alright”

Deana Carter's second album EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT was released in late 1998. The album didn't do too well, and ultimately, Deana was dropped from Capitol Records. It's a shame this album didn't catch on with country radio or fans, it's really good. It's unfair to compare this to her debut album, they are two completely different albums. This album, shows her more creative side. The album is a lot more acoustic than her first, and less commercial as well. The first single was the excellent ballad "Absence of the Heart". "People Miss Planes" is a really sweet ballad about giving love another shot. "Angels Working Overtime" may be seen as too cheesy, but it's a nice song and I like it. It was a single but didn't do too well. She covers "Brand New Key" and does a pretty good job. "Make Up Your Mind" is a nice 'in your face' kind of song. "Colour Everywhere" is my favorite ballad on the disc, it should have been a single in my opinion, would have been a hit I bet. Other highlights on the set include "Ruby Brown", "Never Comin Down" and "Michelangelo Sky". Give it a listen, it's a solid album!

Deana's new album still features her charmingly sweet voice, but it is not as consistent as "Did I Shave My Legs For This?" The CD starts out with a good rocking song with "You Still Shake Me." The second song, "Ruby Brown," has a nice story of a troubled woman passing through town, but is hampered by muddled instrumentation. "Brand New Key" is fine for Deana's voice, but it is cheesy. "Angels Working Overtime" is the best song - and it has a strong alternative rock feel to it. The ballad "People Miss Planes" is a little too whiny to have its desired effect. "Make Up Your Mind" is a refereshingly unique song. "Never Comin' Down" has a decent funk touch to it. "Michaelangelo Sky" is uplifing, but "Colour Everywhere" doesn't do much lyrically. It details its theme of new love to excess - so much that it ruins the song. "Train Song" definitely shows off Deana's energy with a good infatuation theme. The instruments on that song are crisp. "Dickson County" takes a different perspective on not wanting to see the person again - and succeeds. The last song, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright," has a nice lullabye-type of melody, but she could have ended with better than that. There are no songs here as witty as "Strawberry Wine" and "Did I Shave My Legs For This?," and no song as melodically appealing as "We Danced Anyway," but it's still a decent buy.

Deana's career has certainly had some ups and downs. She began with an album (Did I shave my legs for this) that her American record label refused to release - but, somewhat surprisingly, managed to get a UK release. Deana continued searching for songs while writing some of her own. Eventually, she got an American release with an album also titled Did I shave my legs for this, but it was a very different album from the earlier UK release, with only the title track and two others appearing on both. The American album included Strawberry wine, a song that the record label reluctantly released as a single. It became popular among country fans, who proceeded in their millions to buy the album, whose sales were further helped by other hits such as We danced anyway. After such a phenomenally successful album, Deana's future suddenly seemed bright. Then the follow-up album (this one) appeared. Airplay and sales were disappointing and the record label dropped Deana. So is this album so bad? No - it sold a fair number of copies by normal standards but nowhere near what everybody hoped for.

The problem (if there is one) is that Deana didn't want to stick to a formula, preferring to do something a little different. Of course, it's one thing for an established star to change style from one album to another - it's quite another for somebody to do so with just two albums to her name and only one that most people knew about. In general, the songs here are less instantly appealing than those on Deana's previous albums, but they grow with repeated listening. Among the songs is a cover of Brand new key, the seventies classic written and originally recorded in 1971 by Melanie. With the singles from the album not doing as well as hoped, it may be the most recognizable song on the album.

Apart from Brand new key, all the songs are originals except the title track, which Deana's father wrote in 1971. The opening track (You still shake me) is slightly quirky (like several songs here) but I love it -it's about how Deana feels about a former lover. She doesn't want him back but she clearly has a soft spot for him. The next song (Ruby Brown) is about a woman who has vanished. The next song (Absence of the heart) is about a relationship that's gone cold. After that and Brand new sky comes a very romantic song (Michelangelo sky).

Next is another song (People miss planes) with an inconclusive ending, just like Ruby Brown. In this song, a woman decides she's had enough of her man and heads for the airport. She gets there but does she board that plane or turn back? You can decide for yourself how it ended. Next is a song (Never coming down) about a woman waiting for - and finding - true love. Then comes a song (Make up your mind) about a woman's impatience with a man. Maybe she gets the answer she wants, for the next song (Color everywhere) is really happy. Next is a song (Angels working overtime) about a baby who is dumped by her mother who feels unable to look after her.

Next is a song (Dickson county) about a woman wanting revenge. The next song (The train song) has strange lyrics but features vocal backing by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The title track closes the album in a reassuring manner.

This may not be as good as Deana's earlier albums, even after allowing for the need to let it grow through repeat plays, but it has a fascination all of its own.

Her first album exploded on the charts and was an immediate success. How in the world was she going to follow that up? After all, it spawned 4 top ten hits, 3 number one singles, and sold 4 million copies. Well, she did something that artists who are in that position should always do-----listen to your first album and then go in the exact opposite direction.

Deana, with this album, has hit everything on the nose. She couldn't hash out another album like her first because it wouldn't be as good. With this album, she mixes a variety of styles that shows her artistic edge and proves that she's got more balls that anyone in Nashville. The opening track is a ZZ-top style tune, "You Still Shake Me" while "Ruby Brown" shows off Carter's storytelling talent. The tracks that most stand out is "Michaelangelo Sky", "Dickson County", "People Miss Planes", and "Angels Working Overtime" where she just may have the best vocal performance ever.

Is the album worth getting? HELL YES!!!! However, don't compare it to the first. LIke I said earlier, they are both exact opposites. And it makes sense. How often have we heard the phrase, "They are all the same. Once you have one, you have 'em all!" Congrats, Deana! I hope you read this review because you kick serious butt with this album.

P.S. - The Train Song kicks serious ass!

This is a very up beat cd that is very good. So I think that it is a keeper. Buy it today. Greg G