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

Album Review

Lorrie Morgan - My Heart
BNA Records

Lorrie Morgan has always been consistent, maybe a little too consistent. Her albums tend to fall into the category of "good stuff, but I'm going to forget about it in a couple of months." Maybe it's the large amount of filler music that usually sneaks into her records. Thankfully Lorrie must have felt the need for change. She has switched producers (now working with John Michael Montgomery's producer Csaba Petocz) and due to that fact her music seems to have gotten a much needed face lift.

I have often wondered how good Lorrie could be if she'd turn out an album full of solid material, minus the filler. Well, we get an idea with My Heart. Lorrie delivers some impressive ballads and cuts loose with some of her best upbeat tunes. It's not a rock solid collection, but it's a step in the right direction.

Jo Dee Messina joins Lorrie on the albums opening cut, "The Things That We Do." It's a fun loving tune that we all can relate too, and you have to love that growl that Morgan gets on the end of her notes when she cuts loose. The surprisingly good cover of Bryan Adams "The Only Thing That Looks Good On You Is Me," is one of the albums highlights. The kind of song that is perfect for a long car trip. Lorrie can add her name to the very short list of people who have been able to cover a Kim Richey song without making a complete fool out of themselves. "Here I Go Again," is just as addictive with Lorrie singing it as it was when Kim introduced us to the song back in 1995. The title track makes a logical single, it has a lot of chart potential.

There are a lot of trademark Lorrie Morgan ballads to be found here. "Where Does That Leave Me," is a painful number about lost love that displays Lorrie's voice well. "On This Bed," is a beautiful ballad written by Jon Randall, Lorrie's husband. The current single "Maybe Not Tonight," continues the trend of big name acts getting together to record music. Lorrie and Sammy Kershaw deliver the song well.

"I Did," is one of the albums poorest tracks. The song isn't bad until it reaches the down right annoying chorus. There also isn't much that can be done to save "Between Midnight and Tommorow."

My Heart is one of Lorrie Morgan's stronger releases. It seems that with her last few albums Morgan has gotten a better at selecting music that she really should be recording. The result has been less filler and higher quality records. This album is worth looking at a little more seriously.

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.