Marketed mainly as a sexpot by her former record company, Mindy McCready chafed against that image ("I always wanted to say important things") and finally left the label altogether. But maybe she was on the right track to start with. The most memorable songs on her new Capitol album mine the same light vein as the majority of her RCA hits ("Guys Do It All the Time") but lack the knockout punch that earned her platinum status. She scores points for finding a good, left-wing cheating song, "Lovin' Your Man," told from the point of view of the errant best friend. And she's believable on "Scream," in which a spurned woman struggles to deal with the anger of romantic failure. But otherwise, this "country" album just floats by on a sea of homogenized L.A. pop. By its end, you don't even remember who's singing. Or care. --Alanna Nash Amazon.com
People who gave this 5 stars must not be familiar with Mindy's much better former albums. This album is O.K., but only O.K. Mindy's first two were awesome, the third solid. This album, her fourth, is definitely her weakest. The bottom line is that the songs are just plain forgettable. None of them, except the respectable, Lips Like Yours, stick in my head. A bunch of songs from Mindy's other albums stick in my head. There are a few covers here: Maybe, Maybe Not was done better by Mila Mason, and Fire was done better by Chely Wright. Mindy kinda lost her way on this one, then had a bunch of personal problems. That's a bummer, cuz she is a good singer, one of my favorite, just not on this album.
July 9, 2007This was her weakest country album. It has numerous songs which might have been successful if marketed to the lite rock sect. Her music is soft and sensual which tends to get lost in Country music unless its very sad, upbeat, or sung by a man. Sexier songs are not as appreciated sung by women as they are in lite rock. Its very sad. "Be with me," "The Fire," "I just want love," and "Don't speak" are sexy and great songs to dance with that special someone. They were undermarketed. Mindy is great. Share this with the one you love on a quiet night.
May 23, 2006 |  | Pretentious overproduction for unpretentious stylist |  |
This artist makes some enchanting and engaging musical sounds - that's why such grandiose cliche-ridden overproduction and busy arranging leave the listener unsatisfied. There are two great entries (tracks one/two), "Maybe, Maybe Not" and "Lips Like Yours" which sustain nicely even in the heavy trappings. This is Top 40 "Cross-Over" material, melodic and catchy, conceivably based in part on Sheryl Crow and Bob Dylan (and possibly on Billy Joel - "Lips Like Yours" has some a few notes which recall "Uptown Girl").
"Fire" seems to derive sonically from Juice Newton - that's what makes it listenable, no slight on Mindy. There are no other immediately involving tracks, unfortunately - in fact, many should have been placed on the shelf, labeled "for future reference" - meaning a future collection featuring "previously unreleased material" - for fans only - though track nine brings the set back to respectability: "If I Feel Your Hand" is a memorable soul-bearing timeless sound, echoing the artist Spring ["The Spring Thing"]. It resonates with romanticism in a cynical (entertainment) culture.
November 17, 2005Mindy McCready left her previous record label BNA back in 1999 after her album I'M NOT SO TOUGH flopped, it was over creative differences. Later in 2000 she signed with Capitol. The song "Scream" was leaked, the first single, long before the album came out. The song didn't catch on with radio unfortunately, it's a monster ballad that she sings with conviction and passion. The album was slated to have 11 songs, with two that did not make the cut. "Why We Love" and "Sacrifice", two great ballads that should have been on. Instead they worked on the album again and before it was released, she recorded two new songs, one which was the next single. "Maybe, Maybe Not" was a song written by fellow country singer Mila Mason (who also has her own version out now) which is a fun bubbly song that had a great video too. Once again failed to capture anyone's attention at CMT or country radio. A last ditch attempt was when they released the uptempo, tongue in cheek song "Lips Like Yours" which is a great song, but went nowhere. It's too bad the album didn't receive more attention, because it's some of the best music she's made. The other new song she recorded was "Be With Me", which should have been a single, a nice midtempo song about devotion. She covered Chely Wright's "The Fire", and gave it her own style. "Tremble" is the best ballad on the album, it should have been a single, it's just a great song that would have exploded at country radio. The ballad "Lovin Your Man" is a really great country song about being the other woman, the one the man cheats on his wife with. It's a great song. Other favorites include "If I Feel Your Hand". The only song that I didn't care for really was the Phil Vassar penned "Don't Speak", but it's still alright. The album is great, so check it out, you don't know what you're missing.
October 12, 2003After a rather unsuccessful album Mindy is determined to get back on the charts with her latest release: Mindy McCready. Mindy McCready is a good album with a great choice of songs. The first song "Maybe, Maybe Not" is a fun, cute type of song that Mindy is known for singing. "Be With Me" is a nice, soothing beautiful song that Mindy hasn't really done before. "Scream" is the best on the album with such a powerful, haunting progression to it. All in all, this is a great album, one of Mindy's best.
March 10, 2003More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(16 reviews)
