Women of Country - The Internet's #1 Guide to Female Country Music

Album Review

Mindy McCready - If I Don't Stay The Night
BNA Records

Mindy McCready stormed country music like so many other new artists last year. With her she brought a belly button ring and a distinct sound. People had mixed reviews about the belly button, which finally gained acceptance but her album on the other hand, received solid reviews. Now battling throat problems which lead to a throat surgery a short while ago, Mindy is back with an album full of potential that just falls short.

Ten Thousand Angels was an album full of songs sporting strong messages for women. With If I Don't Stay The Night, Mindy takes it a step farther with message geared towards answering questions she hears a lot from her younger fans. With "This Is Me," Mindy expresses the importance to be yourself, and be proud of who you are. In the title track she lets people know, it alright to say no. She deals with wanting to say yes and the questions that go along with it in the current single "What If I Do." All of them delivered with Mindy's sassy vocals.

She handles Matraca Berg's complex "Oh Romeo," with ease. "For A Good Time Call," another trademark Mindy tune is solid as well. In fact the first seven tracks of the album are just as good as anything found on Ten Thousand Angels. One small problem, it totally falls apart for the remainder of the album.

An incredibly weak remake of Kim Richey's "You'll Never Know," is full of vocal flaws and lacks the feeling of the original cut. It doesn't get any better with the whiny "Fine Art Of Holding A Woman." The album rebounds slightly with the catchy guitar licks in "Only A Whisper," but falls back down with the albums closer "Long, Long Time."

If I Don't Stay The Night shows Mindy's talent and also shows her struggle with her voice due to nagging throat problems. You will love the album or you will put it on your shelf not to be listened to again. The album is worth it's weight in gold for the first set of tracks, but the second set seem more like fillers than the high quality music we all know Mindy is capable of delivering.

Album Review by Jeff Krasky

The WOC Rating Scale

The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection.

This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level.

This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there.

A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy.

This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark.