SMALL TOWN GIRL - KELLIE PICKLER
She may not have taken home top prize on last season’s “American Idol,” but this impressive debut CD proves Pickler is a winner. The sassy spirit she demonstrated on TV permeates these 11 tracks, particularly on the feisty “Gotta Keep Moving” and the cheeky fun of “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.” But Pickler also shows the ability to be surprisingly soulful, especially on the heartbreaking ballad “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.” Pickler co-wrote five of the tunes and lays her heart bare on “I Wonder” and “My Angel,” the latter a tribute to her grandmother. Skillfully produced by Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks), this CD is a moving portrait of a small-town girl coming to terms with her past and celebrating the promise of her future. Billboard
