Carrie Underwood Conjures Storm for 'Blown Away'

This is Carrie's 4th album. If we look back at history, most singers really give their most artistically creative and personal albums at this point. Britney Spears gave us In The Zone which saw her really getting down and dirty and completely shedding her good girl image. Same can be said about Rihanna's Rated R. Beyoncé's 4 was an incredible adventure into her beautiful loving soul and took us back to the golden days of R&B. Miranda Lambert's Four The Record swept award season because she was finally able to shed her "woman scorned" image and show that she was still a loving lady. Now I'm sitting here writing a review for one of the industries strongest vocals, beaming in exciting because I can say the same thing for her. 

Carrie Underwood's Blown Away album is her most brooding and chilling in some places, while in others she is as goofy and country as ever. I guess she really took note of critics mixed reviews for Play On because she didn't hold back a damn thing. 

Here are some highlights.

Per usual the album starts with the lead single "Good Girl" which was her official "I'm back, bitches" statement to the country charts, which she has slowly been cracking, showing longevity while others make short stints at the top spots. Think "Cowboy Casanova" being retold to some poor foolishly in love little girl who's about to run of with the absolute worst guy she could end up with. If Carrie Underwood was belting at me like that, I definitely wouldn't go with him. By the end of the song, Carrie's already got you in a dark mood, thinking about some man that pissed you off. 

The next two songs really took me by surprise. "Blown Away" is easily the greatest story in her discography. It tells the tale of a not-shit father who meets his maker at the mercy of mother nature, in a vengeful feat by his daughter. Lyrically, the song is a metaphorical powerhouse, "There's not enough rain in Oklahoma to wash the sins out of this house." Whatever went down in that house, she is ready to let it go, including the man who caused it all. If I don't convince you to buy this album by the end of this review, do yourself a favor and buy this track on iTunes.

Underwood stays in Lifetime movie mode with "Two Black Cadillacs" which is another tear-jerking tale, this time about a wife and a mistress who finally meet at the funeral of their mischievous man-whore. Yes, interesting story, but Underwood's delivery in this song makes it all the more chilling. 

"Forever Changed" is this album's "Temporary Home" or "Just A Dream" and most classically country. The story is really just unnecessarily sad. Having dealt with family or friends that suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's may make this song touchy for some, but every will feel the emotional outpouring from Underwood's subdued deliver.

"One Way Ticket" is pretty much Underwood's own little "Margaritaville." Fun country tune fused with a tropical beat that sounds like a fun time on the beach with a Corona.

I'm hoping "Leave Love Alone" becomes a single. It's the album's most catchy and fun song. I almost, and I hate saying this, chop it up to Sugarland. The tune is just incredible addictive.

Brad Paisley joins the mix on "Cupid's Got A Shotgun" which follows the previous track in being extremely fun and radio ready. I'd love a video for this song more than any other.

Overall, Blown Away just really blows Play On out of the water. Carrie takes everything that's worked well for in the past, critically, and kicks it up a notch. This is only the second album released this year that I feel is worthy of a "Album of the Year" Grammy nomination. (The other honor goes to Lana Del Rey for the cohesive Born to Die LP)

Rating this album isn't hard at all. 3 listens in and I'm actually going to upgrade it one point that I'd originally prepared and give Carrie a 9 out of 10.

Buy this album! Buy this album! Buy this album!