Carrie Underwood is one of the most commercially successful country singers working today. Her voice has a power and clarity that very few singers have had. Every once in a while, she strays from a country sound, which brings us to My Savior, which is a full-fledged gospel album.
Underwood’s voice is beautiful, the song selection is excellent, and the production is impeccable. My only issue with the album, and I have said this about her several times before, is that every once in a while she is too perfect. This tends to happen when she strays away from country music.
If there is such a thing as pop/gospel, this is it. The purity of her voice is stunning, but in some ways, it hurts the passion that makes gospel music work. Gospel music is not necessarily pretty and that is what Carrie Underwood is all about. The difference is shown with her duet with CeCe Winans on the old hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Carrie sings it and CeCe believes it.
All that aside, it is a very listenable album. “Blessed Assurance,” “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus,” “Just As I Am,” and “Because He Lives” all succumb to her pop perfection. The closest she comes to a traditional gospel sound is “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace,” which is a song made for her approach.
My Savior is a well-intentioned album that will no doubt please her huge fan base. If one approaches it as a pop album of gospel covers, you won’t be disappointed. If you want true gospel music, there are better places to start.
