Love her or hate her, Carrie Underwood has a released her sophomore CD titled “Carnival Ride” and it already looks to be another winner for the American Idol winner.

“Carnival Ride” seems to be an appropriate title for this CD given the ride Carrie has been on since winning her season of American Idol. Her harshest critics don’t think she has paid enough of “her dues” to be winning the awards and getting the attention she has gotten since entering the country music scene. Her biggest fans come back and say, what dues does she need to pay? She has the voice and the talent to take the awards obviously.

This listener has liked what she has heard on the new CD, I don’t know if it’s because I’m not listening to mainstream radio as much (I have XM radio in the house and in my truck) and not having to hear the songs every hour or so. If she can keep her head on straight and keep people around her that have her best interests in mind, she can go far and won’t flame out too fast, in my opinion.

So Small was the first song released to radio and it was an instant hit, the best part for Carrie is that she cowrote the song. The latest to hit radio looks to be heading the same way All American Girl, which should pretty much bring having a baby girl home to any father listening to the song.

I’m not to sure about I Told You So, the remake of the Randy Travis hit. I like the song, but miss the deep tenor of the ballad that Randy had everyone loving. Maybe I’m just loving her ballads these days because another one I’m not overly fond of is I Know You Won’t, I get the emotion behind the song, but it just doesn’t strike me like some of the other songs on the CD.

I do love the upbeat, fast tempo songs she has included on this CD, Last Name is one that comes to mind. Sort of has the beat of Before He Cheats and a catchy tune to it. Flat on the Floor is another one I have to say catches me everytime it pops up on my player.

Overall, not a bad sophomore effort from Carrie. It should help to cement her place in country music and prove that she has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.