The follow-up to the enormously successful Some Hearts, former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's second album moves away from the Shania Twain-like pop influences of her debut into a purer form of country music that focuses on her remarkable voice. Comparisons to Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire,and Faith Hill are valid, especially on songs like the twangy first single "So Small." That song is one of four co-written by Underwood; the remaining three are among the strongest on the album, alongside a heartfelt cover of Randy Travis' "I Told You So" and the wry "The More Boys I Meet." Carnival Ride is a much more self-assured and personal album than Some Hearts, and it's a straightforward slice of contemporary Nashville country at its best. ~ Charity Stafford|

Rovi