If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Carrie Underwood is, without a doubt, the savviest artist to hold the title of American Idol. When push comes to shove, she knows how to sell albums. On her third disc, Play On, Underwood sticks to the same multi-platinum formula of her previous two records, Some Hearts and Carnival Ride. Play On contains similar sweeping ballads, foot-stomping tell-offs, and feel-good, country-pop ditties -- albeit with different twists.

Underwood takes lead writing credit for more than half of Play On's tracks, and they're surprisingly some of the album's highlights. However, even more shocking, are the results of the collaboration between Underwood and American Idol judge, and writer of the abomination known as "No Boundaries," Kara DioGuardi. Their combined talents make magic on Play On's best track, "Undo It." Underwood plays scorned lover to perfection as she belts, "You had my heart, now I want it back / I'm startin' to see everything you lack / Boy, you blew it, you put me through it / I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it." The song represents Underwood's best chance at replicating the ubiquitous success of 2006's "Before He Cheats."

"Undo It" isn't Underwood's only feat. On "Quitter" she stretches and teams with pop hitmaker Max Martin (the man behind "Since U Been Gone" and "So What") to create a sweet, simple song of devotion. "Temporary Home" plays like Some Heart's "Don't Forget to Remember Me," which isn't a bad thing. She also utilizes her strengths on the man-hating "Songs Like This."

If uptempo songs are Play On's strength, then the ballads are its weakness. "Unapologize" is the album's best, but even it has a country rock feel. "Mama's Song" starts strong but fails to deliver necessary emotional heft. "Change" is the disc's most grievous misstep. Not even Underwood's pristine and powerful voice can save a song with lyrics of "What ya gonna do with 36 cents/ Sticky with Coke on your floorboard?."

Play On will appease any Underwood fan, but it also won't win her any new ones. With Taylor Swift nipping at her Prada heels, Underwood needs to sing outside the lines on her next effort to continue her reign as country music's queen. With her undeniable talent and a few calculated risks, she has the potential to make a crossover record as successful and iconic as Shania Twain's Come On Over.

Grade: B

Download It: "Cowboy Casanova," "Undo It," "Songs Like This," "Quitter"
Ditch It: "Change," "Look At Me"