
Sony - Sony
Miranda Lambert
Release date: 2007-05-01
Audio CD
Contemporary Country, Country, Country & Western, Country-Pop, Pop, Traditional Country, United States of America
1. Gunpowder & Lead
2. Dry Town
3. Famous In A Small Town
4. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
5. Love Letters
6. Desperation
7. More Like Her
8. Down
9. Guilty In Here
10. Getting Ready
11. Easy From Now On




I was a little skeptical about buying this CD but I had liked Miranda's radio hits so I bought it. I was delighted to find that all of her songs were worth listening to repeatedly. I especially like Dry Town, Deperation, Down, and Famous in a Small Town (which was her first song I had ever heard and continues to be a favorite of mine). Buy this CD!
Let it be said that Miranda Lambert is the best artist to emerge from a 'reality show' on any station in any musical format. That this "Nashville Star" graduate had a great voice is a moot point, but few could have predicted that she would make a timeless, classic album such as "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" so early in her career.
The album title is unfortunate (I would have preferred that she chose something more laidback or meaningful), but the album is most decidedly a grassroot country album that gives you true country in this era of pathetic pop-rock being passed off as country. One listen to this album and you will not be able to take Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift seriously anymore. The 'country music' that they make is fake, at best, but granted they know how to churn out good tunes.
Miranda targets a different audience - one that knows its' music, and one that respects the great tradition of country music. Its an art that few have appreciated, and a genre that very few have been able to truly embrace. I can safely say that Dolly Parton is the only female country artist who 'knew' what country was all about, in my opinion, as she was the best storyteller of them all.
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is a concept album about a relationship that dies. Every track tells a story that neatly segues into the next song and message. While Miranda is great with some killer tunes, her voice is the most appealing instrument here - her pitch and vocal control is simply amazing, and she has by FAR the most unique voice in country music right now - you can't confuse her with anyone else. And what a superb Southern accent! Magnetic, is what I call her.
Highlights for me are "Down" (according to me the best track on the album, though it hasn't been released as a single), and "Desperation" (which sets the tone for the depressing subject matter the album contends with). The music here is vintage country and bluegrass, with rock elements rearing their head every now and then. Miranda is conscious of 'good tunes' and its evident they tacked on a few great melodies here, but it all just works. The title track for instance, with its rural-vocal opening and slowburn start, is a perfect introduction to one killer of an album.
An album or "LP" as it was once known, is a long player that needs to have a cohesive message. In this age of one or two hit singles and an album full of filler, its a rare treat that Miranda Lambert has taken time out to craft an album where every song tells a story, where every song has a discernible melody and personality of its' own. To me, this country album epitomizes the very best of what the genre has to offer, and is easily one of the greatest country albums of all time.
Introduce yourself to Miranda's music, and you might just learn to appreciate what REAL country music is all about. In fact, if you listen to this album and then listen to Shania Twain, you'll realize the vast difference. Lambert is bringing country back, and has single-handedly given back respect and dignity to a genre that has been overtaken by corporate muppets.
Five Stars. An Epic Album that will go down in history as one of country musics' best of all time.