Play On

iTunes Review

Carrie Underwood accomplishes a good deal on her third album Play On. She reconfirms her stature as one of country’s outstanding female vocalists while making a bold play for the pop marketplace. Play On gives her a batch of superior tunes to apply her sterling vocals to, ranging from sweet folk-country numbers (“This Time”, “Quitter”) to sleek ‘n’ sassy twang-rockers (“Undo It”). Underwood harkens back to her hit “Before He Cheats” by tearing into a gallery of two-timing boyfriends on scathing tracks like “Cowboy Casanova” and “Songs Like This”. Anger isn’t the predominant note here, though — themes of gratitude (“Mama’s Song”), idealism (“Change”) and spiritual affirmation (“Temporary Home”) lend this album a positive glow. Underwood shows her innate grace as a singer on two aching ballads, “Someday When I Start Loving You” and “What Can I Say” (the latter a duet with Sons of Sylvia’s Ashley Clark). She soars mightily on the title track, infusing it with the fire of a personal credo. Play On combines technical excellence with genuine heart.