When I first listened to this album, I thought "Wow! What an awesome CD!" However, the more I listened to it, the more I disliked it. I started noticing all of the errors that are contained on this album. First of all, I agree with previous reviewers: the production on this album is ridiculous. Each and every song is over produced. LeAnn's voice is magnified (which is unnecessary) on every song, and most of them have an echo! Also, very little of the material on this album is original. Too many remakes. And those of you who congratulated her for the "original" song Rock Me: That song isn't original! That was a remake, too. It was recorded several years ago by country singer Deborah Allen. Also, LeAnn sings far too many pop songs on this album. I realize that country-pop is what's "popular" today, but I think you have to draw the line somewhere. I mean, a "country" artist singing a Prince song is absurd! Not to mention the pop remakes she did of Jan Arden and Amanda Marshall songs. This album should not have been in the country genre. There is very little country music on the whole CD. In fact, there is very little good music on this CD period! Her dad needs to lay off the production and lay off the magnification of LeAnn's voice. I wish her better luck in the future. It's sad to think that she's so young, and yet her career may have ended before it really ever started.
I really loved this CD!! Leann's voice is amazing, and the songs are great. They are mostly upbeat or romantic songs. She sings a beautiful duet with Bryan White (who I also think is a wonderful singer) in "When Am I Gonna Get Over You". The only song I really didn't enjoy was "Purple Rain". Otherwise it is an excellent CD, with songs that I enjoy listening to often.
I really enjoy this album. I think that LeAnn Rimes definitely does a wonderful job with this one!! I was really impressed with her range and ability to stretch beyond the genre of country. It shows that she can sing just about anything. So what if she does some remakes of old songs -- like that's never been done before. I really think her version of "Insenstive" and "Purple Rain" are fresh, new, and interesting! She brings a new sound to some very well known and popular songs. I still believe she has one of the most beautiful voices ever. And as far as not singing in her age range -- come on people!! What teenager doesn't think about or hasn't been exposed to the issues Rimes sings about? Keep up the great work, LeAnn. You are truly wonderful!!! :)
Love her or hate her, you can't deny that LeAnn's got one hell of a voice - big, expressive, awesome, sometimes annoying (particularly on the self-titled album, full of yodeling and voice cracking), almost always used impeccably.
And you can't deny that, even with the stupid "Country or pop?" debate surrounding her (does it even MATTER what genre she is?), she's backed with some awesome songs. (Okay, maybe you can deny it, but shut up)
And aside form Twisted Angel, here's full proof of that - her second-highest musical peak. Relaxed/upbeat, spring-breezy adult contemporary/pop/country perfect for just driving along or relaxing to.
First we have the optimistic double-whammy openers in the country-twinged Commitment, a beachy sort of tune doused in shimmering acoustics, and the sweet ballad, Looking Through Your Eyes. Perking things back up is Undeniable, another country-licked, soft-upbeat bit-o-adult contemporary with some freakin majeakin awesome electric guitar work.
Course, you have the stinker of the album - the god-awful cover of Prince's Purple Rain. I never could stand Prince to begin with, so this just makes the cover that much worse - you'll scream in agony as LeAnn's voice cracs on every other word. You'll want it to stop. Somewhere in the world, baby Jesus will probably cry at this travesty.
Then you've got the upbeat pop/country meldings, packed in the steel-guitar-twanged Nothing New Under The Moon (which most likely will have you bobbing along) and, of course, the frighteningly perky Sittin' On Top Of The World, which sounds like it could've come off of Sheryl Crow's take on the Blue album.
Then you've got more adult contemporary/pop/country leanings with the beautifully upbeat, sun-drenched, relaxing Surrender (punctuated by gunshot-esque drums under the uptempo beat), the pseudo-country ballad cover of Anne Loree's Insensitive, and the flat-out country-rock of Rock Me, which falls into early Faith Hill territory, topped off by some sassy piano work.
My favorite song on here changes all the time, though, and currently, I'm stuck on the sappy, cavity-inducing ballad, Feels Like Home... which shows the obvious Diane Warren signs lyrically, except it's BETTER than her usual work. Sure, it's got the typical big booming ballad drums, tick-tock beat, pretty-n-sunny strings, and soft piano (and electric guitar, for extra cheesiness), but I don't care - it's pretty, damn it.
Relax, drive, whatever it is you wanna do, here's the perfect album to do it to: A sunny, calming, breezy spring/summer album just for you. (Complete with some pretty beach pictures in he liner notes - hell, even the photographers had the feel down right)
I think this is one of her best albums, tied with "blue". I wore it out and plan to purchase another. I or my sister together have every one of Leann's albums and sittin' on top of the world is better than her latest release, "Leann Rimes". 'Undeniable' and 'more than anyone deserves' are my personal favorites on this album.
