Carnival Ride | 
| Artist: Carrie Underwood
Label: Arista
List Price: $18.97
Buy Used: $6.92
You Save: $12.05 (64%)
New (59) Used (25) Collectible (5) from $6.92
Rating:  238 reviews
Sales Rank: 57
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 886971122121
UPC: 886971122121
EAN: 0886971122121
ASIN: B000VI70V8
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Flat on the Floor - Carrie Underwood, James, Brett | | • | All-American Girl - Carrie Underwood, Underwood, Carrie | | • | So Small - Carrie Underwood, Underwood, Carrie | | • | Just a Dream - Carrie Underwood, McEwan, Steve | | • | Get out of This Town - Carrie Underwood, McEwan, Steve | | • | Crazy Dreams - Carrie Underwood, Underwood, Carrie | | • | I Know You Won't - Carrie Underwood, McEwan, Steve | | • | Last Name - Carrie Underwood, Underwood, Carrie | | • | You Won't Find This - Carrie Underwood, Shapiro, Tom | | • | I Told You So - Carrie Underwood, Travis, Randy | | • | The More Boys I Meet - Carrie Underwood, McEwan, Steve | | • | Twisted - Carrie Underwood, Lindsey, Hillary | | • | Wheel of the World - Carrie Underwood, Lindsey, Hillary |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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Amazon.com
Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts, hastily made and released some five months after she won the 2005 American Idol crown, was surprisingly solid and tuneful. For her follow-up, producer Mark Bright steers her toward the big Martina McBride skies, with a plethora of strings and huge emotional crescendos. Underwood co-wrote four songs, mostly with the tried-and-true tunesmiths who made Some Hearts soar. On the torchy heartache ballad "I Know You Won't," she gives a beautifully nuanced and controlled performance, but if that song would suit any number of lush female pop stars from Celine Dion on down, "Flat on the Floor" rocks hard while preserving co-writer Ashley Monroe's Appalachian angst. Still, there are missteps: the easy tears of the unlikely war ballad "Just a Dream," a too-obvious attempt to repeat the sass of "Before He Cheats" ("The More Boys I Meet"), and the Shania-ish bad-girl-on-Cuervo stomp of "Last Name." The big payoff, then, is how much 24-year old Underwood has improved as a vocalist. How often listeners line up for this Carnival Ride depends on their attitude about country music's continual melding with pop, and how they feel about a princess upstart taking home the awards that used to go to her heroes. --Alanna Nash Carrie Underwood Photos More from Carrie Underwood 
Some Hearts |
American Idol Season 4 - The Showstoppers |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 233 more reviews...
 Leagues Better Than her First Album. October 23, 2007
A* (New York, N.Y. United States)
82 out of 102 found this review helpful
While most country stars go forward and reach for mainstream pop records, like Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood went in reverse. Her first disc had more than a few pop elements but this disc starts off with a foot stomper, "Flat on The Floor" and doesn't let up with fiddles, twang and chorus after chorus that will make you want to shout them out of your car windows. To say she has made a solid country disc in the vein of vintage Reba or Dolly is an understatement.
Underwood has even learned some new vocal tricks, as if she needed more, "Get Out of This Town," builds from an already assured vocal into a firestorm. Underwood isn't afraid to just go with the vocal and give a stronger reading as well. That was evident in her cover of "I'll Stand By You," which was simply stunning.
"Carnival Ride," is void of any weak tracks and this day and age that's a rare finding, some are stronger than others but, Jebus, the girl is giving her all to prove that she's a more than just a pretty face who sings country, she's trying to prove it's in her blood. And when you hear "You Won't Find This," that brings about that sing songy chorus that Shania Twain loves so much, you'll be a happy camper with your purchase.
Carrie conquers contemporary country October 22, 2007
Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)
56 out of 69 found this review helpful
The second album from Carrie Underwood packs slightly less punch than her debut, but is still more than enough to further cement her place in the contemporary country hierarchy. Solidly country, this album showcases Underwood as a singer/songwriter with writing credits on four of the tracks - first single "So Small"; the excellent "All American Girl"; "Crazy Dreams" and the comedy track "Last Name". (If you liked Alan Jackson's "I Don't Even Know Your Name", you'll see lots of similarities to the aforementioned "Last Name".)
All the tracks are worth a listen, but some are immediately worth an instant replay. My recommendations are:
Flat on the Floor - a hard-rocking track with attitude
All-American Girl - instant single material with heartwarming lyrics
So Small - soaring first single about not sweating the small stuff
Just a Dream - a tear jerker with a wonderful chorus
Crazy Dreams - catchy beat just slightly reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Education"
I Told You So - slow ballad written by Randy Travis
Wheel of the World - an easy listening track with inspired backing music
If the four tracks on which she has songwriting credits are any indication, Carrie Underwood has nowhere to go but up - should be a wild ride. (4.5 stars)
Amanda Richards, October 23, 2007
 Disappointing... October 28, 2007
Jem (MD, USA)
17 out of 44 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed Carrie's first album, though I'm more a pop fan than country. "Before He Cheats" was hot, and I could listen to "Wasted" over and over. I even liked "Jesus Take the Wheel" even though I don't like country ballads. And that's my main problem with this album. NINE of the thirteen tracks on this album were slow or ballads. And the ballads were boring and cliche. Carrie has a clear, beautiful voice that shines on fast and mid-tempo tracks. Unfortunately, there is only one truly fast song on this, "Flat on the Floor." There are couple of good mid-tempo songs, but nothing I'd listen to again and again. My favorite track on the CD is "Last Name" just because it's so funny (and I wish I had just purchased it on iTunes).
I read an interview where she said she was miffed that people didn't consider the first album country. I can only guess she wanted everyone to be positive this one was country, and did her best to out-Twang "Some Hearts." I think she shot herself in the foot doing so - you can still be true to country and have cross-over appeal. Look at Martina McBride, Shania Twain or even Reba - no one doubts they are country, but they still attract non-country fans to their music. Fans of traditional country will probably love this album; I recommend anyone else give it a listen first. I wish I had listened to this before buying, and I'll never buy another of her albums without doing so.
Carrie's crazy `carnival ride' continues October 23, 2007
M. D. (Boston, MA)
14 out of 20 found this review helpful
Carrie Underwood's sophomore effort, `Carnival Ride,' is the greatest country album of all time.
Yes, that may seem like hyperbole, but it is the truth. Coming off of her six-time platinum debut `Some Hearts,' Underwood brings her game to a whole new level by getting in touch with her "gritty Oklahoman" roots and connecting with audiences on emotional wavelengths few artists ever reach. Everything about `Ride' is meticulously calculated and orchestrated to perfection, from the track order to the ratio of up-tempo songs to ballads (not to mention Underwood has writing credits on four of the album's tracks).
Underwood kicks off the record with an all-out country anthem in "Flat on the Floor." "Floor," which was penned by Ashley Monroe and Brett James, displays an unmistakable mark of prowess obtained in Underwood's transition from an up-and-coming country/pop artist to a full-blown country vixen. Other fast paced offerings on `Ride' include the unofficial sequel to "Before He Cheats" in "Last Name" and the bread and butter "All-American Girl," in which Underwood's strength as a storyteller is documented.
The most pop-friendly track comes in the form of "Twisted," which is the only song that could truly fit on both `Ride' and `Some Hearts.' Underwood channels Martina McBride and Kelly Clarkson on the edgy "Get Out of This Town," and shows her humorous side on "The More Boys I Meet."
Although the up-tempo tracks on `Ride' are outstanding and country through and through, the ballads are the pinnacle of the album, as they display Underwood's vocal maturity. In "Just a Dream," Underwood tells the tale of a military widow's woes, her pain embedded in the fabric of the song. This vocal performance is the second-best on `Ride,' as she is able to captivate the audience and comes off as very believable. Although not the best overall song on the album, "I Know You Won't" is Underwood's best vocal performance, as she nails notes that most artists can only dream of hitting.
Other standouts on `Ride' include the album's first single, "So Small," which has already reached #5 on Billboard's U.S. Hot Country Songs chart, and the spunky, funky "Crazy Dreams." Underwood also covers the Randy Travis classic "I Told You So" and pours her heart into Cathy Dennis' and Tom Shapiro's "You Won't Find This."
`Ride' closes with the greatest recording Underwood has ever done next to "Jesus, Take the Wheel," as her personal favorite "Wheel of the World" delivers a message of hope and the lyrics are relatable to many ("God put us here on this carnival ride / We close our eyes never knowing / Where it will take us next").
Rest assured, the 24-year-old Carrie Underwood is about to tear up the charts once more with the instant masterpiece that is `Carnival Ride,' and the songstress has already achieved unimaginable success some artists twice her age could only dream of. As if winning two Grammy awards, two CMA awards, eight Billboard awards, five ACM awards, four CMT awards, two People's Choice awards, a GMA award, an American Music award, a Teen Choice Award, an ICM award, a Music Row award, and an NARP award do not give her enough credibility, `Carnival Ride' will certainly erase any and all remaining doubt that she is an established country star.
All signs point to Carrie's crazy carnival ride continuing for years to come.
 Impressive Sophomore Album October 24, 2007
Chelsea Burroughs (Arcata, CA)
13 out of 17 found this review helpful
All I can say is that she is the closest thing to the real deal in a long time. This young woman has the chops to be around for a very, very long time, much to our delight. Carnival Ride is a more mature collection and her classy hand shows in the selection and even some of the writing. Her voice is again clear and a balm to the ears, even the louder cuts.
I haven't taken this CD out of my home system since I got it and I'm purchasing a second copy for my car. What a breath of fresh air to have a talented young artist break away from the field of pole dancing objects being thrown in our faces. She dresses impeccably, behaves impeccably and has a voice that causes, no, forces my eyes closed just so I can enjoy the moment. Also amazing is that she offers her talent without apology. Carrie is in a class by herself, she obviously has the rare quality of surrounding herself with good, sane, and smart people and actually loves her Mom and Dad. Who knew a good kid could still make it in the current music market?
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