What makes this album special is that LeAnn wrote pretty much all of it herself. She's growing to become a better artist than where she started out which was just a singer who sings other people's songs. So for that, I give her credit. There's still some growing to be done but this is a pretty solid album. I'll break down the songs:
Family (C+)
Not one of the stronger songs on the album.
Nothin' Better To Do (B)
One of the problems with this song is that it's so hard to understand. You want to sing along to it, but you can't really tell what the words are due to LeAnn's poor enunciation.
Fight (C)
Good Friend And A Glass OF Wine (C-)
Something I Can Feel (C)
There really isn't anything wrong with these songs. There just doesn't seem to be any purpose to them. They seem like the last songs she wrote for the album. She wrote the important songs to her first, and then needed 3 more to fill an album so she just slapped any old thing together. That's what it sounds like anyway.
I Want You With Me (B+)
This song was included with the charity LeAnn was involved in to support the troops. I don't know if that was the intention of the song when it was first written, but now the song has a special meaning and it's touching to listen to every time because of it.
Doesn't Everybody (A+)
One of the brilliant songs on the album. LeAnn takes on life observations, including tabloid celebrities, and questions whether or not we're all the same or if people are just missing out on what is really important in life.
Nothing Wrong (A+)
Another brilliant song. Marc Broussard's scratchy voice fits perfectly with LeAnn's pipes. This is one of the best duets she's ever done. It's loose and fun. One to sing along to in the car.
Pretty Things (A)
An unexpected and interesting song on the album. LeAnn singing about the superficial things in life. Beautiful vocals and with each listen you discover the deeper meaning of the song.
Upper hand (B)
A cool rock song but compared to others on the album it seems a little flat.
One Day Too Long (A+++)
FANTASTIC!!! That's all I have to say for this song
What I Can Not Change (A-)
Beautiful vocals and arrangement. What takes away from this song is that she's sung it on two prior albums. Not the song, but the subject matter. I hate to break it to LeAnn, but her life could be a lot worse than it is. She should sing a song about all the things she's grateful for instead of how she has family and stress problems all the time.
Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore (B)
I was expecting more out of a Bon Jovi song.
When You Love Someone Like (A)
I love this song. Reba and LeAnn sound amazing together. And it's one of the best songs on Reba's duets album too. Thankfully, Reba didn't hog the song like she did through most of her album.
I am not a big country fan but I absolutely love this CD. Even though some of the songs are country, LeAnn sings them all beautifully (as usual). I don't agree with others about this CD being all country. There is an obvious mix of genre which is what I think makes it so great. LeAnn has an amazing voice and now that is a woman in her mid twenties the songs reflect her maturity. Each song should be taken on it's own merit. Even though she isn't appreciated for her non-country songs, I hope she continues to make CDs like this.
This is a great CD and has become one of my favorite's. Every Leann Rimes' fans must own this one.
I have loved every minute of this album. LeAnn's voice is truly the voice of an angel. This is my first LeAnn album (yes, I'm slow sometimes), and it won't be my last. LeAnn, THANK YOU for sharing your wonderful voice with us!
Leann Rimes is an amazing talent and has established herself as a force to be reckoned with as a country artist with an immense catalogue of work established at a very young age. This cd is a very important stepping stone in her career. She has cowritten many of the songs here and a more mature sound is established.
Some songs work better here than others. Standouts are FAMILY, ONE DAY TOO LONG and WHAT I CANNOT CHANGE. Both bonus tracks, duets with Bon Jovi and Reba McEntire, are also very effective. There is a problem on some songs here though. On NOTHIN BETTER TO DO, FIGHT and DOESN'T EVERYBODY her vocals are strong but her articulation is off and it is difficult to understand the words she is singing. This is apparent more on this cd than previous ones and she must be careful that it doesn't become stronger as she develops into even more of an adult artist.
The cd is not her best but it is certainly very good. And on ONE DAY TOO LONG, already mentioned, she lets loose more than ever before. It is a bluesy, major belting ballad done expertly.
Enjoy.
