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Cry Pretty
by
Cry Pretty Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 130 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth full-length release for the country/pop artist features a guest appearance from Ludacris and was co-produced with David Garcia.
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Top Track

Cry Pretty
[Verse 1] I'm sorry But I'm just a girl not usually the kind to show my heart to the world I'm pretty good at keeping it together I hold my... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. AllMusic
    Sep 14, 2018
    90
    Underwood is taking risks for the first time. Nearly all of them pay off. ... The result is an album as satisfying as it is surprising.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Sep 14, 2018
    83
    At its best, she’s never sounded more vulnerable, or more willing to play within the definitions of country music. But it also means that when she pulls back, and falls into the costumes of others, it’s a little harder to accept the veil. ... It’s the second half of Cry Pretty where Underwood starts to truly lay her cards on the table--and where she soars the most.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Sep 21, 2018
    83
    Here the bluesy “Drinking Alone” transports you to a smoky bar where two lonely strangers find each other above their beer bottles, while “The Bullet” is a strong and surprising anti-gun-violence message from a country star. But it’s Underwood’s considerable resilience that shines through here.
  4. Paste Magazine
    Sep 19, 2018
    64
    Underwood nails two tried and true country traditions: the drinking-to-death heart-wrencher (“Spinning Bottles”) and the faith-based, family-first hymn (“Kingdom”), proving both times that big, emotional ballads remain her bread and butter. Much of the rest of the album finds Underwood exploring pop and R&B sounds more than ever before. Sometimes, she’s successful. ... Sometimes, she’s not so successful.
  5. PopMatters
    Oct 4, 2018
    60
    Her voice as a lyricist (she co-wrote two-thirds of the songs) tends to drift just a little, with the more specific songs working better. With the thick production on the album, it models radio trends but doesn't advance them. Given Underwood's talents, it would be exciting to see her craft a character-driven album and some quieter production.
  6. Exclaim
    Sep 14, 2018
    60
    The album is frustrating, with no middle ground, and the strengths don't quite make up for the weaknesses.
  7. The Guardian
    Sep 14, 2018
    40
    It is all gloss and shine, with sadness at industry-approved levels of maximum efficacy. Take 75% uplift, add 20% melancholy, top up with 5% not actually contentious controversy, and voilà: Cry Pretty.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 53
  3. Negative: 14 out of 53
  1. Triggeredsiya
    Mar 28, 2021
    10
    Anong kalokohan naman itong mga ulol na nagiiwan ng mababang score sa mga albums ni Carrie. Kung ayaw mo sa kanya eh di wag kang makinig.Anong kalokohan naman itong mga ulol na nagiiwan ng mababang score sa mga albums ni Carrie. Kung ayaw mo sa kanya eh di wag kang makinig. Siguro naman hindi pinanganak na tanga di ba? Kung ang hilig mo lang ay puro kabaduyan eh sarilinin mo na lang dahil wala kaming paki.… Expand
  2. Smokyiiis
    Sep 14, 2018
    10
    Holy SMOKES! Bring the extinguisher because this album is pure FIRE! For anyone that said Carrie is ONLY Country POP, have them stop in for aHoly SMOKES! Bring the extinguisher because this album is pure FIRE! For anyone that said Carrie is ONLY Country POP, have them stop in for a listen or two to this album! I count it as NUMERO UNO of all her albums and I am literally STOKED !!!

    GOTS is the very definition of country. Gives me Johnny & June vibes. Gonna have to get me some Jack in my coke and have a party…...

    Low has just GOT TO BE A SINGLE! TODAY! TOMORROW! Even YESTERDAY! It reminded me somewhat of Patsy Cline and the crooning, whaling… A vocal masterpiece. FIRST CLASS!

    Backsliding - I loved the words….really need to hear all of it.

    Southbound – Absolutely loved it. Very catchy, a great quickstep! Pure country with a kicker!

    TSWUTMLT – What a little mid tempo jewel.

    Drinking Alone – I’m telling you….bluesy as all get out. Chris Stapleton vibes here. Ends with a shooter or two……..

    The Bullet – Grab a towel in lieu of a Kleenex. Wow, start to finish, this is a tear jerker to beat all. Words are just beautiful, voice singing it even more so. Gave me a little bit of Allen Jackson The Day The World Stopped Turning vibes..

    Spinning Bottles – WOW. Cut open my chest and exposed my heart in this soulful ballad with the almost sobbing vocals. Keep hold of the Kleenex you had for The Bullet.

    End Up With You – Loving the staccato upbeat bursts in this song. Probably the least country of all the songs, it’s catchy as all get out.

    Kingdom – Sounds very personal and glad to see that Carrie is including this kind of song on her new album. Perfectly imperfect…..

    I personally give this album an A+
    Loving the start to finish….the whole shebang. Love how it covers every facet of feelings from the lowest of lows and climbing to the highest of the highs with The Champion. A work of art. And the framer is Carrie. Her voice covers so many different facets throughout the album. Loving how she just WENT with it! Let it talk to her! Let her voice tell the stories!
    The album is the definition of GRAMMY.    … Expand
  4. Dereon
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    This has to be one of Carrie's greatest albums she's ever released. I really think it's good enough to win AOTY at the Grammys! The songs areThis has to be one of Carrie's greatest albums she's ever released. I really think it's good enough to win AOTY at the Grammys! The songs are diverse and some are surprising, but it flows really well. She opens up more than in previous albums, and some songs hit hard. It's an amazing album.… Expand
  5. carrietx
    Sep 18, 2018
    10
    This wonderful album is my favorite since Some Hearts. Just brilliant in every way. Carrie Underwood's vocal performance is amazing. I loveThis wonderful album is my favorite since Some Hearts. Just brilliant in every way. Carrie Underwood's vocal performance is amazing. I love every song on the album -- production and performance simply outstanding. Best work to date by a great artist.… Expand
  6. primsandprettie
    Sep 22, 2018
    10
    I'm not sure what critics are listening to but, this album is not only musically brilliant, lyrically interesting & emotionally a journey BUT,I'm not sure what critics are listening to but, this album is not only musically brilliant, lyrically interesting & emotionally a journey BUT, Carrie's vocals ranges from Belt to just shy of a whisper. The high points for me personally are LOW, GHOSTS ON THE STEREO, CRY PRETTY, THE BULLET (brave choice Carrie!)… oh who am I kidding, the weakest song for me on the album was End up With You and it's still catchy as heck. I feel like I went from a stadium to a smoky bar in New Orleans to her living room in Tennessee & just outside her church for a moment. This is her best work to date. I'm not often surprised by music but this album 'shook' me in a good way. I like listening to albums as stand alone, not comparing to what has been done, what I expect or what should have been done. I like to rate them based on their own merit. How many songs from the album do I have to skip to make it listenable. I don't have to skip any songs on this album. It's that good & a journey worth taking!!!… Expand
  7. Violins94
    Mar 8, 2019
    6
    I'm very mixed on this album. Overall I like it, but it's a little too pop leaning for me. It's not a record that I will keep going back toI'm very mixed on this album. Overall I like it, but it's a little too pop leaning for me. It's not a record that I will keep going back to and listening to all the way through, but tracks like Drinking Alone and Low are really solid songs that will be part of every playlist I make. It's a good record but it's not her best.… Expand
  8. honeybubble
    Nov 8, 2018
    0
    Another flop. She is no longer relevant now that she has been exposed as a political coward. This pop music is for children. I want music for adults.

See all 53 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2018

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