Songs I liked right out of the box-
BA - the first time I heard it I could feel the wind and the driving story. Carrie says she loves because it is so visual, she called it. I was listing in the car and visualizing videos - Fortunately it's not a moving violation to think of Carrie in a new video.
TBC - Okay I admit I'm a little dense I really like the song on the first play through, but when realized it was about murder - it only took me twice. I loved it. Back then I pictured it as vintage Southern Gothic. Bringing up books like The Sound and the Fury; To Kill a Mockingbird; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; & The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Now TBC is one of my favorites on the Album.
FC - Classic Carrie taking a journey through life reminded both her and us that stops along life forever change us. At the time I was a bit confused that I liked the song because I hate change. To quote the master geek, "No, it’s not going to be fine, change is never fine. They say it is, but it’s not." Sheldon Cooper BBT
GiG - Another right out of the box favorites, It reminds me of Garth's "Unanswered Prayers" and I love that song, but GiG is better because it is bittersweet whereas UP had a more bitter tone, a "Thank Gd you didn't let me marry THAT." kind of thin.
CGS - I love this song, but my first reaction was it maybe a little too cute for a single. Now I would love it as a single.
WAW This is the perfect country song, it harkens back to the tears in the beer songs without going there, just using alcohol as a metaphor. It is such a perfect, mellow, painful lost love' coping song - Should be a Single!
Okay now the Hmmm songs
1 GG - I wasn't really excited about this song at first, it has a great catchy tune but I didn't get it. It was only after the video did I start get where the song was going. I like it now, not my favorite but it's a good song
2. OWT I didn't like out of the box and I still don't I think it makes for a fun song in concerts, flying around throwing out beach balls, but it doesn't do anything for me that Kenny hasn't already done better
3 TGFHT I like the song, I think it's how Carrie feels when she goes home, but I can't relate to it at all as an Air Force brat I have no hometown. The song does make me melancholy because I would have loved a hometown like Checotah.
4. SYA - THis song just doesn't do much for me, it's okay I never leave it out of my Carrie playlist but it's kind of Meh.
5, DYTAM- I really didn't care for this song out of the box. It was too happy right after BA & TBC, now I like it - it's growing on me. I don't like it enough to want it a single, but if it became one I'd be on board.
6. LLA - Hard song. I like the a like the lyrics, I love the mandolin - but the beat and tempo seem wrong for the song, it should have been a darker plea.
7. NETY - I love this song's message, but as a guy with grown daughters the song seems to loose some of it's relevance . Sure it could be applied to people of all ages who wear masks because we don't like who they are. But that is really stretching the lyrics. I don't think this would work as a single as it is aimed at only a portion of her fanbase.
8. WAY - I love this song as a faith based himym. There are a couple of various that don't quite fit, but the rest of it is a perfect song, glorifying God. I wish Carrie has but a more direct faith base song on this album. This one is both good and bad. I'm not sure it would work as a single and then there the Mutt baggage. Of all the songs on the album this is the most disappointing. As a faith song it is problematic given those couple of verses and as a romantic song either the person's devotion is so great as to be a bit creepy or the person is prone extensive to hyperbole.