Rating:
Genre:
Country
Release Date: 10/31/2006
The first 2006
American Idol contestant out of the gates with an album is not winner
Taylor Hicks or runner-up
Katharine McPhee or even Web favorite
Chris Daughtry: it's
Kellie Pickler, the
Carrie Underwood wannabe with an "aw shucks" grin and a down-home charm.
Kellie certainly didn't have the greatest voice among the 2006 contestants, but she sure did have the most personality -- who else could have held their own against
Wolfgang Puck in a sketch comedy, as she did on the show's season finale? -- which made her an excellent candidate to be polished and packaged into a
pop star. Or, more accurately, a
country-pop star, since there was no hiding the twang in
Pickler's voice (something that hindered her rendition of
Queen's
"Bohemian Rhapsody," or made it more exquisite, depending on your perspective), nor was there any denying that her strongest base of support was the South, which was only natural for this North Carolina girl.
Pickler always played up her country girl persona on the show, and while her antics sometimes bordered on shtick -- there's no other word for her trademark apology, "I'm saw-ree!," which was equal parts
Gomer Pyle and
Hee-Haw -- it did give her an identity that could be transferred to record, as it is on
Small Town Girl. That title makes it crystal clear what
Kellie's persona is: she's the girl next door made good, and while she may be on her way in the big city, her heart belongs back home, where she can eat cheeseburgers, not calamari, where girls like her can act like one of the guys, where wild ponies run, and where grandmothers are saints. Some of this does bear the trace of biography --
Pickler indeed is a small-town girl turned into a celebrity, her grandmother was indeed her "angel," raising the young
Kellie, whose mother had run off and whose dad was in jail -- but it all plays a bit like a story invented for those fans who loved
Pickler's act on
AmIdol, and frankly the record is better for it. It's more fun to listen to
Small Town Girl knowing the bits and pieces of
Pickler's past and present, since it gives some meaning to songs that otherwise are rather formulaic. There are songs of empowerment (
"Gotta Keep Moving," "I'm on My Way," "Small Town Girl"), songs that are sassy but not sexy (
"One of the Guys," "Red High Heels," which rewrites
Miranda Lambert's
"Kerosene" by leaving out all the threats and energy), songs that are nothing more than corny jokes (
"Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind"), songs that are pure sugary sentiment (
"Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You," "I Wonder," "My Angel"), all fitting some aspect of
Kellie's personality as seen on TV. Without that context, these songs range from moderately catchy to pleasantly forgettable, but with that outside knowledge, this is a thoroughly likeable record, almost as likeable as
Kellie herself. Oh, and as for
Kellie the singer? She sure makes for a great TV star, that's for sure.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 2
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Amy Bohm
from Port Huron, MI
Totally awesome album in the world!!
This album is one of the best on the market along with carrie underwood and taylor swift's cds! You might as well call these three the three musketeers! for they are always together and closer than ever!! lol
A reviewer
from N.C.
Genuine. Heartfelt. Sassy. Sexy. Real.
"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.
SECOND CD
Eagerly awaiting Kellie's second album, titled "Kellie PIckler," which drops on Sept. 30 and is available for pre-order now.
;)
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