Disco de Deana Carter: “The Story of My Life”

Descripción (en inglés) :

Personnel: Deana Carter (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, strings, piano); James Michael (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer, programming); Jeff Carter (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Randy Leago (flute, accordion, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Steve Mackie (bass instrument); Kyle Woodring (drums). <p>Recording information: Little Big Guy, Los Angeles, CA; Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA. <p>Chalk THE STORY OF MY LIFE up as Deanna Carter's huge change-of-life project. With this 2005 album, Carter leaves behind the Music Row system that not only fostered the breakout success of her 1996 smash, "Strawberry Wine," but subsequently made the performer feel creatively restrained. Prior to the record, the Nashville native fled to Los Angeles, where she signed with Vanguard and took full control over her musical direction. Admittedly influenced by the sound of 1970s singer/songwriters, Carter unabashedly ties this confessional approach to her own tunes, resulting in tales of record-company malfeasance (the dreamy "Sunny Day"), a determined attitude (a delicate title track), and heartbreak (the melancholy "In a Heartbeat.") Even though real-life personal losses inform the Lucinda Williams-like "Atlanta & Birmingham," Carter still tosses in her fair share of eclectic fictional characters. Most intriguing is the go-go-boot-wearing childhood pal residing within the winsome jangle of "One Day at a Time," with its charming allusions to Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, and John Lennon.

Deana Carter has released a beautiful heart-wrenching record that reflects here struggles and growth over the past couple of years. Now that she is a mommy, I hope she doesn't mellow so much that she loses her edge. This is truly her best work to date. If you like Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Lee Ann Womack, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton or any other honest strong opinionated southern female artist then you should LOVE this record. This is not your typical Nashville country music album, infact it was recorded in a home in Los Angeles. Although she has traveled many a mile since the start of her career, when you play this album you can almost feel the warmth of the North Louisiana cotton fields of her youth. It is heartbreaking and refreshing at the same time. Honest, sometimes to a fault. BUY THIS RECORD!!!!!

This may be one of the best albums to come out this year...sadly, many people will probably not get a chance to hear it. I heard a preview of the song "Atlanta and Birmingham", and I was hooked, and hoped that the rest of the record would be as indearing. It is. I does have its slower sections, but even its downsides are better than a lot of what is deemed for as "good" music, country or other wise. Standout songs: "The Girl You Left Me For", "One Day at A Time", "In a Heartbeat", "Atlanta and Birmingham", "Not Another Love Song". The rest are good too...these are just the cream of the crop

I've been a big fan for years and am so glad to see Deana Carter back on the charts with new material! There's something so unique about her voice that just locks you in. On this, her fourth studio album (her old label, Universal, released a GH cd after she left to capitalize on her past success; this was totally their call unlike what another reviewer alluded to)she is able to convey to the listener a wide array of emotions from the upbeat, playful "The Girl You Left Me For" to the slow, haunting "Atlanta to Birmingham"!

This is her comeback! It will happen, "One Day At a Time"! ;)

Deana Carter's "The Story of My Life" is an excellent disc, her stylistic breakthrough. The most accessible track is the opener "The Girl You Left Me For" with Jeff Carter's stunning lead guitar energizing this pop rocker, a driving breakup song. "One Day at a Time" is a good pop track with its Thelma & Louise chorus, "Like John Lennon & Kennedy I'm with them, yeah, 'cause I believe you gotta make history one day a time." Carter's effort and attention to detail is reflected on the full arrangement for "Ordinary" with Kyle Wooding's bold drumbeats and Carter's wild guitar on a song essentially about leadership, "I had a long talk with the angels today & they say, 'Listen to me...you gotta be a shepherd, don't be a sheep.'" Another excellent breakup song is "She's Good for You" with James Michael's piano & the twist in the lyric, "You say she's good for you...that makes her very bad for me." "Not Another Love Song" is a quieter song with a lovely melody as Deana sings about romance in trouble. On "Sunny Day" we hear a bit about struggles for artistic control in the music business, "Some music man doesn't give a da*n what I have to say, but he's stealing tears & playing games that I don't play, I'm not going to let that son-of-a-*itch take my love away." "The Story of My Life" is a very strong set with no weak spots. The arrangements, songwriting and performance are all excellent. This is a shining moment for Deana. Bravo!

I was tempted to review each song, and go on at length about how wonderful each one makes me feel. However, let me be brief. This is evidently a very personal experience for the artist. Her voice tells the stories so well that to over analyze each song would be an injustice. This is an very good album that deserves, but probably will not get much airplay because the songs were not cut as "radio-hits." They are in truth artistic expressions. Do youself a favor and listen to each song yourself and let Deana touch you as she will undoubtedly touch everyone with a heart who listens to her. She could sing the phonebook to me, and I would be happy. Her voice is an instrument that exposes her soul.