Small Town Girl - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
This debut album by the small-town girl with the big, powerhouse voice showcases two distinctly different sides of Kellie Pickler's music. The hard-riffing uptempo material recalls the heartland rock of Bob Seger and John Mellencamp, with Pickler providing a good-ole-girl twang. Among the highlights are the emancipated strut of "Red High Heels," the playful humor of "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind," and the tomboy bluesiness of "One of the Guys." Yet the American Idol finalist turns pure diva on the over-the-top balladry of the album's other half, with swelling strings and arrangements that overpower rather than enhance "I Wonder" and "I'm on My Way." On such cuts, producer Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks) never gives Pickler a chance to show the subtlety and nuance that makes music more an art than a competition. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews: Read 182 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly good October 31, 2006
89 out of 102 found this review helpful

I'm not an "enthusiastic" fan of Kellie Pickler but I was curious as to how her debut CD would turn out. Much to my surprise, it was a lot better than I thought.

Kellie's CD is a nice balance of soulful ballads and upbeat tunes. There were a few songs where she could've done better, a few that captured the pain of growing up without a mom and of losing a beloved grandmother, and a few sassy ones that showcase her fun-loving personality. However, I think Kellie can only improve as she gets more experience under her belt.

Here are my thoughts on some of the tracks:

Red High Heels: Upbeat and catchy tune with a whole lot of sass. With Kellie's penchant for shoes, I'm not surprised this was her first release.

Gotta Keep Moving: This is a definite "cruisin' with the top down" type of song. It's fun with a real good beat.

Things that Never Cross a Man's Mind: Not sure I like this one.

Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You: This is a really good song. The lyrics are heartfelt and moving, but I'm not sure Kellie was very convincing in her performance. Her voice lacked conviction.

I Wonder: This is my favorite song on this CD. I think this is a song about her mother. I'm guessing though. Anyway, Kellie really pulls it off. Her voice is rich with pain and heartbreak.

Wild Ponies: Slow, sad ballad about a strong-willed girl who falls for and marries the wrong guy. I also liked this song and Kellie does an adequate job with it.

My Angel: This song is about her grandmother and the pain of losing her. Again, Kellie's grief really shows through her voice.

I recommend Kellie's CD as a definite buy. You'll be surprised by it as I was.

5 out of 5 stars

Big sound from a small town girl October 31, 2006
57 out of 66 found this review helpful

Maybe she didn't win American Idol Season Five, but now that Kellie Pickler can concentrate on singing country music, it's pretty clear that country is her strong point, and where she belongs.

On this excellent debut album she proves that she can hold her own with the best of them, and with the production talents of Blake Chancey (who also did the job for the Dixie Chicks) this album will be around for a long time.

There's no filler material on this album, which starts off with the first single "Red High Heels" and never stops churning from there in. Her strong vocals and the slick arrangements make this album special, and it's obvious that's she's having a really good time. Listen for "Gotta Keep Moving", "Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind", "I Wonder", "Small Town Girl", "Girls Like Me" and "My Angel", and then listen to the rest.

A great debut album that's on par with the best out there.

Amanda Richards, October 31, 2006

5 out of 5 stars

A Chance Well Taken February 9, 2007
19 out of 22 found this review helpful

I took a chance on this CD. I don't watch American Idol, but "Red High Heels" stuck in my head and wouldn't leave. I saw some really good reviews on Amazon, so I bought it. It's a really, really, good album. Kellie's voice reminds me of Pam Tillis, a favorite of mine. She does a fine job on the ballads, the "attitude" songs, and the fun stuff. I liked every cut. The album is well-produced; the songs are well-written, and Kellie does them all justice. I've sometimes been burned when I've taken a chance on an album, but not this time. "Small Town Girl" is a winner.

5 out of 5 stars

Genuine. Heartfelt. Sassy. Sexy. Real. November 5, 2006
15 out of 17 found this review helpful

"Small Town Girl" lets Kellie Pickler be Kellie Pickler. The result is an album that offers both emotionally ripping ballads and catchy, playful country/rock tunes.

Break out the tissues AND the six-packs for this one.

GIVE THE ALBUM A CHANCE:

"Small Town Girl" may shock the people she failed to win over on "American Idol," or those that look down on the show's alums.

But there's a reward for those that give the album a chance, and likely, a change of heart. I've heard glowing praise from several converts since the CD's release.

MY FAVORITE TRACK: "I WONDER"

I find myself fighting tears every time I hear this ballad about her mother, who walked out on Kellie when the future singer/songwriter was 2 years old. I can't remember when a song affected me so deeply.

KELLIE THE SONG WRITER:

Kellie co-wrote five of the songs while on the American Idol tour. Those tracks -- "Red High Heels," "My Angel," "Small Town Girl," "One of the Guys," and "I Wonder" -- are standouts for me.

But there isn't a bad track here, and all tracks fit her perfectly.

THE VERDICT, A HOME RUN:

Kellie Pickler poured her passion, her personality, her heart and soul into this album. The result is country's best new album.

5 out of 5 stars

Pickler Was Picked For A Reason October 31, 2006
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Kellie Pickler has a naturally great voice that was made for country music. In her debut album, she has uptempo breakup songs, fun sing-alongs, love ballads, and sad songs. It's an amazing album from start to finish. Kellie wrote these songs based on her personal life. "Red High Heels" is based on her love for shoes. It is a fun song, and it is easy to dance to. "My Angel" is about her grandmother who dies when she was young. It is a vocally and lyrically beautiful song. "I Wonder", "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You", and "Wild Ponies" all show Kellie's vocal range, and they all have a fantastic melody that you will be singing all day long. "Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind", "One Of The Guys", "Small Town Girl", and "Girl Like Me" are all fun songs that are great to listen to. "Gotta Keep Moving" is a great song for country radio, and it would make a great single. The best song on the album is "I'm On My Way." All of the songs are amazing, but this one has them all beat." This is probably one of the top ten best debut albums I have ever heard. Anybody who knows music will agree. Kellie Pickler has a future in music.

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