| I'm Just a Girl - Deana Carter | |
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Reviewed by Jennifer Webb
It has been awhile since Deana Carter released a regular album but now the wait is over. I'm Just A Girl contains twelve brand new tracks, all of which were written or co-written by the artist herself, while Deana's friend Matraca Berg is the co-writer of two of them.
The upbeat title track, "I'm Just A Girl," is a catchy tune that will make listeners interested in hearing what else is to be found on the album. Despite the fact that the girl has traveled all over the world and experienced many things, there is no way she could ever be labeled as "ordinary" because she takes pride in all things American (like Chevys and Coca-Cola sundaes) and southern (like baseball and apple pie). No matter where she happens to be overseas, she will always long for being where her home is because that is where she is most comfortable.
Being in love and willing to do anything for her man is the topic of the next song, "There's No Limit," which also happens to be the first single. Although the video could be dubbed as pretty steamy, it is already receiving fairly heavy airplay on CMT. Nothing can stop the love the couple shares, not even a barbed wire fence. "Take your chances" is the song's main message. One of the best songs from the album is "You and Tequila," co-written by Deana and Matraca Berg. Deana's sultry voice sings slowly about how much she has been putting up a fight to stay away from a certain guy, yet she always seems to give in. "You and tequila make me crazy. You run like poison in my blood" is part of the chorus. Though she is the one giving in to her weakness, she knows she is really the powerful one because of her thinking about "all the damage that could be done."
There always has to be some humor in a Deana Carter song and "Cover Of A Magazine" gives us the taste of that aspect of her songwriting. The song itself is pretty funny in the beginning when Deana is obsessing about what she is supposed to look like as she glances at everyone on covers of magazines, but then toward the end the listener realizes that wanting to be famous is something that most everybody has dreamed of at one time or another. Though not really a magazine, her album cover sure does look like one so she ended up getting her wish fulfilled.
"Waiting" is a wonderful duet with Dwight Yoakam and marks the very first duet that Deana has ever done on an album. Deana's part tells a story of a girl waiting for the guy to notice the little things that are so important to her, and seemingly unimportant for him. Dwight's strong vocals respond by giving her an answer to all of her questions and saying that she is only concerned about her own world instead of his. All of the hope they hold to stay together is slowly drowning as they wait for the other's world to turn around.
"Goodbye Train" is another gem co-written by Deana and Matraca Berg. Trying to get over a breakup is the subject of this song because whatever bad thing happened, she will always remember the way she felt when he held her in his arms. As the song progresses she mentions that she needs her freedom to do whatever she chooses and her next boyfriend will have to respect that. She ends up learning to forget about the good times and does not let them cloud her judgment as she moves on making her tracks toward creating new ones as the stronger woman she has become.
This album keeps with Deana's track record of recording songs that are fun to listen to, or those that will touch you in some way or another. Having Deana's stamp on all twelve tracks really gives listeners a treat because we get to see a little more of her than we might have in the past. This is definitely an album to enjoy.
Song List:
- I Was Wrong
- Trick Ponies
- I'm Just a Girl
- Hey Juanica
- Trouble With a Capital "T"
- The City Is Different (Without You in It)
- My Heart's in Denial
- Rita
- Someone You Can Live With
- I Stand Accused
- The Gift
- Waycross Stables
- What You Call Love
Album cover courtesy of Arista Nashville.
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