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Terri is never afraid to take
on a challenge. First touring with country superstar George Strait,
now about to embark on tour with Reba and
Brooks & Dunn, both of whom have just released new albums,
she once again shows her mettle as she will be belting out songs
from her latest album too. But Terri brings strong credentials,
her debut album went platinum and successor gold. Now she is
ready to move up and take her place along with Trisha,
Shania and other top female recording artists.
This is an album that takes
giant strides as she expands her musical
skills, from honky-tonk to blues. "Because this album is
such a departure for me, I really dug deep," comments Clark.
"I loved my first two albums, but really wanted to grow
emotionally and musically."
Opening with the very catchy
"I'm Alright," a song that begs to be sung
by a crowd, Terri serves notice that she is up to the challenges
of life and the challenge of her new direction. I'm impressed
right out of the gate."Now That I Found You" is a love
song that started life as an r&b/pop tune but translated
so well that it is one of the best cuts on this album.
Betrayed by love is the theme
of "Every Time I Cry" and Terri sings it
like someone hitting herself upside the head for being stupid
enough to think things can actually change. Clark cowrote "That's
How I Feel" one of five songs on which she shares the writing
credit. It is one of the few songs on the album written from
a woman's point of view.
The swing of "You're
Easy on The Eyes" will make this a dance favorite and includes
some infectious clapping. In an excellent change of pace "Getting
Even With the Blues" slows things down and shows Terri can
deliver a soft, sweet sound and that she can reach for the notes.
This is the kind of song I could imagine Aretha Franklin singing.
Terri really reaches down deep for this one.
"Til I Get There"
never quite arrives. She calls it a 'mood' piece and it
just wanders aimlessly around the blues, never quite establishing
a feeling
for me. On the other hand "Not Getting Over You"
is deeply personal and full of feeling. This trip has a destination
-- to a place in your heart.
Clark says the next cut sounds
like an Alan Jackson tune and it is hard
to imagine a female singer giving us lines like 'this ole heart
is built like
a truck' but it works for me. Alison Krauss joins Terri
on "Cure For The
Common Heartache" in a smooth blending of vocal talent so
good that it sounds almost like her own voice being overdubbed.
"Me Not Loving You"
is a gloating song. Terri calls it the 'if your
phone doesn't ring it's me' song, but I believe in truth in labeling.
The
final cut is 180 degrees from this one. It is a song about the
"Unsung Hero" in your life and I could see it being
a perfect Mother's Day song.
With the one exception this
album is one to listen to and savor, cut after cut. That's "How
I Feel." |
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