Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.82 You Save: $3.12 (35%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.99 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Free Music Review: An excellent follow up to Kerosene
Hit: 5 Stars
Miranda Lambert's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is an exceptional sophomore release and refreshing change from much of the county music that is on the radio today. Most of the album has the same feel as her debut album, Kerosene and Lambert's vocal range can be described as a female Hank Williams Sr. mixed with some Loretta Lynn. Lambert's voice is very raw and has a feel of "old country," rather than the typical over-produced and mixed recordings of most of the female country artists today. As I had to do with "Kerosene," I listened to this album many times before I could appreciate all of the songs on it. And literally every song is good.
One of the reasons this album is so exceptional, is that Lambert wrote or co-wrote 8 of the 11 songs, and the only thing she does better than singing is songwriting. Perhaps this understanding of the songs is the reason that her singing comes across with so much conviction.
1. Gunpowder and Lead, 4. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - fast-paced, and the only two songs that deviate slightly from Lambert's "old-country" feel and sound more contemporary. "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" could almost be called a sequel to "Kerosene." These will likely be the only radio-friendly singles. Given the chorus, they could just as easily have been sung by Gretchen Wilson, however a closer look at the lyrics show that despite the tempo of the music, these songs have a much more serious nature at second glance.
2. Dry Town, 3. Famous in a Small Town - A closer look at Lambert's life growing up in Longview, Texas.
5. Love Letters, 6. Desperation, 7. More Like Her - These are the only three songs written entirely by Lambert, and lyrically, are the best songs on the album. The tone in all three is pretty different, but they all have the quality of exceptional writing, that somehow the producers were able to put to fairly good music. "Love Letters" is a true country ballad, yet retains a modern feel.
8. Down, 9. Guilty in Here - Somewhat forgettable songs, but they grow on you and are still fairly good.
10. Getting Ready, 11. Easy From Now On - Lambert did not co-write either of these songs, which is unfortunate since they are two of the best on the album. "Easy From Now On" is probably my favorite musical track, and I enjoy her version even more than the one originally sung by EmmyLou Harris.
Ultimately, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is a follow up well-worthy of Lambert and showcases some exceptional songwriting and vocal talent. This is not traditional country music filled with ridiculously cheesy lyrics and the same chorus every 30 seconds, but introspective writing and an excellent followup from this rising young artist.
Free Music Review: A Rather Dark Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Miranda Lambert is a brave singer, exploring the dark crevices of life and romance. This is territory that other female singers may explore for an occasional song, but not for an entire album. Needless to say, most of the album is about romance gone wrong.
My two favorite cuts, however, are not about romance at all. "Dry Town", writte by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch, is the most traditional country sounding track, a humorous song about wanting a cool one and finding that liquor sales are banned where you are. "Famous In A Small Town" is one of those neat little 'slices of life' songs dealing with the realities of life in a very small town where everyone knows everyone else's business and 'everyone dies famous in a small town'.
The rest of the CD is about the down side of romance (I certainly hope Ms Lambert's real life isn't as bleak as depicted here - she penned or helped pen eight of the songs on the album). The opening cut "Gunpowder & Lead" is unfortunate choice to open the album as it (a) isn't country" and (b) isn't very good, the one misfire on the album. Hopefully listeners will work through this track to get to the good stuff. If they do, they are immediately rewarded with the lighter fare of "Dry Town" and the lighter "Famous In A Small Town".
After that it's back to the main theme. "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" didn't get much airplay in my area but it's an interesting number with some nice banjo work by Mike Wruck. The self-penned "Love Letters" about letters written (I presume) on tear-drenched paper is a song with the depths of despair and desolation Hank Williams found in "Alone and Forsaken"
"More Like Her" is a wistful song about her beau returning to his former girlfriend whom he realized was really what he wanted anyway. The remaining songs deal with loss of self-respect, recriminations and regrets.
The album closes with the classic "Easy From Now On" penned by Carlene Carter & Susanna Clark that was a hit for Emmylou Harris back in 1978 - a classic about getting oneself readjusted after the end of a romance. I hope they issue this track as a single
In the hands of a less capable singer, this almost unremitting collection of "emotional downers" would be hard to stomach. Since the songs are well written and the singer so expressive, it is well worth the time spend listening to it. I rated the CD as 5 stars since it is a hair better than 4.5 stars, but if allowed fractional ratings I'd give it 4.75 stars with the major deduction for the opening track
Free Music Review: Album of the year!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Of all the female country artists out there Miranda Lambert is the most under-rated of all of them and it's a cryin' shame because she blows everyone out of the water. While people like Carrie Underwood have sold millions of albums and have good to excellent voices Miranda has the whole package. Miranda not only has one of the best voices in country music she also possesses song writing skills that I haven't seen in years and her live shows are the most energetic and captivating I have ever seen. I would say Miranda's live shows are the best of any live act in any genre.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the followup to her debut album Kerosene is a rockin' country album. From the rocking sound of the lead off track Gunpowder and Lead, a song that will sure make a guy think twice of messing with Miranda or else you might be at the wrong end of a shotgun to the soon to be classic Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, where she goes after her ex's new girlfriend to the country radio friendly Famous in a Small Town which chronicles growing up in a small town this album will have something for everyone.
Every song on this album is incredibly well written and enjoyable. While other artist have rose to the top overnight Ran will earn her fame the hard way, which in the long run will lead to a long, steady climb to the top where with the loyal fan base she will build will keep her on top for years to come.
I would have given this album a 10 of 10 if I could have. A song by song review would be pointless because every song would be given a 10 star rating. So I will just say order this album yourself and find out why she has so many positive reviews!
Free Music Review: A superb follow-up record
Hit: 5 Stars
Miranda Lambert promises to be the next Dolly Parton. Not that Dolly Parton could ever be replaced, but the country music world is in need of a new, feisty blond who can write and sing songs that no one else wants to. Miranda Lambert, with her blunt honesty and pure talent, is capable of doing so, and doing it better than any of her peers.
CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND is appropriately named; several of these tunes sizzle with bottled up hatred, from the opener "Gunpowder & Lead" ("his fist is big but my gun's bigger/he'll find out when I pull the trigger"), to the title track, even to the whistful "More Like Her" ("You don't look much like a man from where I'm at," she sings mournfully). Other tunes are simply insights into darker lifestyles; "Down" and "Desperation" will depress the hell out of you, while "Guilty In Here" tackles a woman who uses the men in her life, and can't stop ("Is it guilty in here, or is it just me?"). Other songs are a bit more light-hearted, including Gillian Welch's whimsical "Dry Town" and Lambert's superb "Famous in a Small Town."
This album stands as one of the best yet this year. Miranda Lambert is one of the best songwriters on the scene. She wrote or co-wrote all but three of these tracks, and those she didn't write ("Dry Town" by Welch, "Getting Ready" by Patti Griffin, and "Easy From Now On" by Carlene Carter) fit right into the flow of the album. Her voice can be sharp as a razor or smooth as butter; her delivery is always top-notch. All of these songs shine with personality and grit; it takes pure talent to deliver every one of these songs, and Miranda Lambert is the best woman for the job.
Free Music Review: Tough Texas Country Album from a Tough & Talented Texan
Hit: 5 Stars
WOW. I haven't been this proud that a country singer is a native Texan in a very long while. After listening to this album, my first thought was, now THIS is Texas Country. For those who don't know how that differs from "regular" country, a short description is country music rooted in "Outlaw Country" movement (Willie & Waylon), & is a fusion of "Outlaw" & "Traditional" country (which is music you can waltz, two-step, polka, or shuffle to). These artists are generally straight-shootin', hard drinkin' fiercely proud Texans who won't take sh&@ from anyone. God Bless Texas!
I can understand the comparison's to Dolly in earlier reviews in terms of talent (singing/song writing ability), but would absolutely describe her sound as a cross b/n the Dixie Chicks & Gretchen Wilson, & believe she'll go farther than either of them.
My favorites from this album (& how you might dance to 'em) are: "Gunpowder & Lead" (a song you can just rock-out to); "Love Letters" (a beautiful waltz); "Famous in a Small Town" (a good two-stepping song); "Dry Town" (a polka); "Desperation" (also a 2-step); & "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (from which comes one of the greatest lines I've ever heard & perfectly describes her mind-set in the song: "Didn't give a second thought to being thrown in jail, 'cause baby, to a hammer, everything looked like a nail!...I was mad as hell.")
I only hope her star continues to rise as she gets more nation-wide exposure and is recognized for her incredible singing AND songwriting abilities. This girl is AMAZING-as is this album, y'all have gotta buy it. It's RAN-TASTIC! ;) (Couldn't help myself)