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Carnival Ride
by
Carnival Ride Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 136 Ratings

  • Summary: The "American Idol" winner returns with her follow-up to her multiaward winning debut.

Top Track

So Small
What you got if you ain't got love? The kind that you just wanna give away It's okay to open up Go ahead and let the light shine through I know it's... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Carnival Ride covers its bases impeccably, from the roof-raising opener 'Flat on the Floor' to the gorgeous, torchy ballad 'I Know You Won't' and the already-massive anthem 'So Small.'
  2. Billboard
    80
    The Oklahoman delivers in spades on her sophomore effort, on which she was much more involved in the creative process.
  3. AllMusic
    80
    Sound and feel do mean a lot, but country records really survive on the strength of their songs, and the remarkable thing about Carnival Ride is that it's stronger song for song than Some Hearts, some of this due to Carrie herself, who bears four songwriting credits here, often in conjunction with some permutation of Steve McEwan and Hillary Lindsey, who pen a bunch of other tunes here.
  4. Blender
    70
    Cheery and unassuming, Underwood is a pleasant oddity: a pop star whose central belief is her own powerlessness.
  5. Rolling Stone
    70
    Carnival Ride is more country and therefore more confident.
  6. PopMatters
    70
    Carnival Ride doesn’t include anything as stand-alone stunning as the song she’ll still be singing at state fairs when she’s 64, but it’s a much better front-to-back collection than her debut.
  7. Hartford Courant
    40
    A record with stronger songs that somehow manages to sound just as banal as her first.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 37
  3. Negative: 6 out of 37
  1. manningn15
    Sep 17, 2018
    10
    This is my favorite album of 2007 and one of my favorite country albums of all time. Carnival Ride was a very nice improvement on her greatThis is my favorite album of 2007 and one of my favorite country albums of all time. Carnival Ride was a very nice improvement on her great debut album. She is my favorite singer of all time and the best country singer of all time and one of the best singers of all time. My favorite songs off the album are So Small, Last Name, Just a Dream, All-American Girl, Flat on the Floor, I Told You So, Twisted, & Wheel of the World. The music videos for Just a Dream, So Small, and Last Name were beautifully done. This is also one of my favorite albums of all time. I also loved how bright and simple the album cover was.… Expand
  2. PeggyF.
    Oct 29, 2007
    10
    I love it ! Go Carrie! I love country music!
  4. tylerbv
    Oct 26, 2013
    10
    10/1010/10 … Expand
  5. TrentW.
    Oct 25, 2007
    9
    No more pop sounding crap for carrie soley country
  6. ChrisN
    Oct 31, 2007
    9
    Carnival Ride is another great album by Carrie. Her big voice lends a helping hand to some of the weaker songs on the album. Overall she did Carnival Ride is another great album by Carrie. Her big voice lends a helping hand to some of the weaker songs on the album. Overall she did a wonderful job.… Expand
  7. MicheleD
    Oct 27, 2007
    8
    I have loved Carrie since her AI debut. Voted her to the top every week, she was that impressive. I love her first CD, Some Hearts, and I have loved Carrie since her AI debut. Voted her to the top every week, she was that impressive. I love her first CD, Some Hearts, and couldn't imagine her making another CD that topped it. I think she's done well with Carnival Ride, her second CD. Many have one good CD and then make a second mediocre one; not our Carrie. While I do think some of the songs and lyrics are a bit young for my taste, I do love her voice and somehow, she makes those young lyrics seem so grown-up. Like she said, she's a 25 year old girl singing about 25 year old things. I can relate to that. While So Small may be the top playing song of hers at the moment, I think the album has potential. There are some great strings and mandolin playing on this new CD that are unbelievable.… Expand
  8. KA
    Oct 26, 2007
    0
    come on. be brave, Carrie.

See all 37 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Most Discussed Album of 2007
81
#81 Most Shared Album of 2007

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