Cry Pretty
by Carrie Underwood
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 130
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 130
  3. Negative: 50 out of 130
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Triggeredsiya
    Mar 28, 2021
    10
    Anong kalokohan naman itong mga ulol na nagiiwan ng mababang score sa mga albums ni Carrie. Kung ayaw mo sa kanya eh di wag kang makinig. Siguro naman hindi pinanganak na tanga di ba? Kung ang hilig mo lang ay puro kabaduyan eh sarilinin mo na lang dahil wala kaming paki.
  2. DonovanKoen25
    Jul 25, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I only recently actually discovered her music, but I must say “Cry pretty” is a very good album if you put it into “discovery”, I love most of the tracks on the album, my favorites are “Cry pretty”, “Low”, “Backsliding”, “That song we used to make love to” and “Drinking Alone”, overall I think it is a very very good album and compared to her previous albums which I am still working through, “Cry pretty” is pretty awesome!… Expand
  3. AlexE345
    Jan 12, 2020
    9
    Though Underwood strayed from her country roots for this album, her vocals and storytelling remains strong. She co-wrote 9 out of 13 of the tracks, showing that she is here to be a songwriter, too, and she co-produced the entire album, a feat she has never accomplished until now. “Cry Pretty”, the single, features some of the best vocals Carrie has ever put forward. “Ghosts on the Stereo”Though Underwood strayed from her country roots for this album, her vocals and storytelling remains strong. She co-wrote 9 out of 13 of the tracks, showing that she is here to be a songwriter, too, and she co-produced the entire album, a feat she has never accomplished until now. “Cry Pretty”, the single, features some of the best vocals Carrie has ever put forward. “Ghosts on the Stereo” and “Low” have an amazing country feel, and “Low” shows off Carrie’s vocals and songwriting abilities very well. The album switches tones at “Backsliding”, offering a more pop, r&b tone. “Backsliding” is one of the best songs on the album, but “Southbound”, the fifth track, seems out of place. The whole album is filled with heart and “Southbound” seemed like a grab at a charting summer single and a feel-good song. Nevertheless, it is a strong song, though it doesn’t exactly fit in the album. The sixth track is something no one had expected from the reigning country queen, but it’s still a beautiful song with a lot of heart. “Drinking Alone”, the fourth single, offers a jazz-tone, which Underwood allowed to shine during the tour supporting the album. It’s one of Carrie’s most diverse and risky songs in her discography, but that risk paid off well. “The Bullet” has an amazing meaning, but seems out of place in the track listing, and the production is too powerful for the meaning of the some to come across completely. “Spinning Bottles” is a track that most artists could never make, given that almost all vocals on the track were recorded in the same day with little to no editing to the vocals. Carrie truly shines in her songwriting and especially vocals in this heart-wrenching album cut. “Love Wins” is very bland, though still good. It covers a broad topic without going too deep into any specifics and country radio still didn’t truly accept it. “End Up With You” is the most pop oriented song on the album, and Carrie really brings it to life on tour while playing the bongos during the song. “Kingdom” is the closer to the album, and it’s a beautiful song describing Underwood’s personal life, hinting at her pregnancy (and now one-year-old song Jacob) and her young son Isaiah. It’s one of her most personal songs, and clearly she had the leading hand in writing the lyrics. “The Champion” is a bonus track, and it definitely shouldn’t be included in the main album, since it also seems out of place in the true Cry Pretty album. However, it’s a very motivational song and many fans feel touched and can relate to the message of the song. Overall, this album is not Underwood’s best effort, but is for sure her
    most personal in the way of her co-producing and co-writing nearly the entire album.    … Expand
  4. manningn15
    Aug 25, 2019
    10
    This is Carrie Underwood's best work to date. Carrie Underwood continues to be one of my top 5 favorite artists of all time, my 2nd favorite singer of all time, the 2nd best country singer, and one of the best singers of all time. This is my 2nd favorite album of 2018 and is one of my favorite albums of all time. As always her voice was spectacular on this album. I could tell how personalThis is Carrie Underwood's best work to date. Carrie Underwood continues to be one of my top 5 favorite artists of all time, my 2nd favorite singer of all time, the 2nd best country singer, and one of the best singers of all time. This is my 2nd favorite album of 2018 and is one of my favorite albums of all time. As always her voice was spectacular on this album. I could tell how personal this album is to her. I loved how she combined country with different types of music like r&b, pop, and soul. The cover for the album is gorgeous, I loved the sparkly crying makeup and it is my favorite album cover ever. The writing and production were both stupendous. The music video for Cry Pretty was a amazingly directed. The music video for Love Wins was very inspiring and beautiful. I loved ever single second listening to this song. Since I loved every song on the album I found it hard to pick my favorite's so instead I ranked them from 1 to 13 an my ranking is Love Wins, Southbound, Low, Spinning Bottles, Drinking Alone, Cry Pretty, The Bullet, Kingdom, The Champion, End Up Here, Ghosts on the Stereo, Backsliding, and That Song That We Used To Make Love To. God Bless her and her entire family. A+.… Expand
  5. Violins94
    Mar 8, 2019
    6
    I'm very mixed on this album. Overall I like it, but it's a little too pop leaning for me. It's not a record that I will keep going back to and listening to all the way through, but tracks like Drinking Alone and Low are really solid songs that will be part of every playlist I make. It's a good record but it's not her best.
  6. St5
    Nov 9, 2018
    10
    Wow this album is EPIC!!! I have all the feelings hearing this record, every song is so well done and innovative! Highly recommended!
  7. honeybubble
    Nov 8, 2018
    0
    Another flop. She is no longer relevant now that she has been exposed as a political coward. This pop music is for children. I want music for adults.
  8. Waylon
    Nov 8, 2018
    0
    She’s not a real country artist. She is manufactured and boring. Just another pretty face to sell to the masses.
  9. desantis34
    Oct 20, 2018
    0
    Carrie Underwood is a hypocrite. How can she promote violence and property damage as moral ways to get back at your unfaithful lover, yet criticize the prevalence of gun violence? Her disgusting pro-property damage hit song "Before He Cheats" actually inspired people. Not only that, but she advocated for murder in "Two Black Cadillacs." She deserves to be treated like the hard-boiledCarrie Underwood is a hypocrite. How can she promote violence and property damage as moral ways to get back at your unfaithful lover, yet criticize the prevalence of gun violence? Her disgusting pro-property damage hit song "Before He Cheats" actually inspired people. Not only that, but she advocated for murder in "Two Black Cadillacs." She deserves to be treated like the hard-boiled criminal she really is.… Expand
  10. BritUnd
    Oct 16, 2018
    10
    Her best album yet. I can't stop playing it on repeat. She really outdid herself and went in a direction she's never gone before. Standout Tracks: That Song That We Used To Make Love To, Low, Backsliding, and Drinking Alone.
  11. rafaelsantosY2
    Oct 12, 2018
    7
    Carrie Underwood beautifully showed off all her pink tears. The album is good, highlighting its great vocals well incorporated, we have tracks with not very unusual, but still very interesting metaphors.
  12. judd_graham
    Oct 8, 2018
    0
    Corny and laughable lyrics. Generic country-esque pop music. Making this album vapid and uninspiring.
  13. DCMusicFan
    Oct 3, 2018
    0
    Truly one of the worst albums of all time, which is saying a lot. From the whinging in Cry Pretty to the borderline cringeworthy lyrics of Love Wins and The Champion, the Cry Pretty album is guaranteed to make you fall ill.
  14. PauliAlexander
    Sep 23, 2018
    0
    I cannot believe I actually wasted 50 minutes of my life listening to this pitiful excuse of music. I wholly regret it now. The thought of listening to this worthless Spotify playlist of crap sickens me to the core. Oh well, lesson learned. But at a horrible time when crap like Post Malone and XXXTentacion (shudders) top the charts.
  15. primsandprettie
    Sep 22, 2018
    10
    I'm not sure what critics are listening to but, this album is not only musically brilliant, lyrically interesting & emotionally a journey BUT, Carrie's vocals ranges from Belt to just shy of a whisper. The high points for me personally are LOW, GHOSTS ON THE STEREO, CRY PRETTY, THE BULLET (brave choice Carrie!)… oh who am I kidding, the weakest song for me on the album was End up With YouI'm not sure what critics are listening to but, this album is not only musically brilliant, lyrically interesting & emotionally a journey BUT, Carrie's vocals ranges from Belt to just shy of a whisper. The high points for me personally are LOW, GHOSTS ON THE STEREO, CRY PRETTY, THE BULLET (brave choice Carrie!)… oh who am I kidding, the weakest song for me on the album was End up With You and it's still catchy as heck. I feel like I went from a stadium to a smoky bar in New Orleans to her living room in Tennessee & just outside her church for a moment. This is her best work to date. I'm not often surprised by music but this album 'shook' me in a good way. I like listening to albums as stand alone, not comparing to what has been done, what I expect or what should have been done. I like to rate them based on their own merit. How many songs from the album do I have to skip to make it listenable. I don't have to skip any songs on this album. It's that good & a journey worth taking!!!… Expand
  16. Dereon
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    This has to be one of Carrie's greatest albums she's ever released. I really think it's good enough to win AOTY at the Grammys! The songs are diverse and some are surprising, but it flows really well. She opens up more than in previous albums, and some songs hit hard. It's an amazing album.
  17. Vickia
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    This is absolutely Carrie Underwood’s best CD. These are some of the best songs that she has recorded in her career. Her vocals, as always, are incredible. One of the best albums, if not THE best album, of 2018 so far.
  18. BrinkerOnline
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Super impressed with this album, topics covered, and the exploration of production. Hard to choose a filler or least favorite song.

    Highlights are Drinking Alone, Low, Ghosts on the Stereo, Spinning Bottles
    Southbound is super fun!
  19. es10
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Her sixth studio album and her voice and sound are as fresh as ever. Carrie explores new sounds and techniques both vocally and musically. With hints of R&B and pop infused in some songs while nodes to her country roots seamlessly stitch the majority of the album.

    The sequence of songs from "Low" to "Drinking Alone" show an array of emotion and talent that is always welcomed from Carrie    Her sixth studio album and her voice and sound are as fresh as ever. Carrie explores new sounds and techniques both vocally and musically. With hints of R&B and pop infused in some songs while nodes to her country roots seamlessly stitch the majority of the album.

    The sequence of songs from "Low" to "Drinking Alone" show an array of emotion and talent that is always welcomed from Carrie Underwood. While "That Song That We Made Love To" and "End Up With You" are more pop-country, they are great entries to Underwood's catalog, continuing to show her growth as an artist.

    Furthermore, it wouldn't be a Carrie Underwood album without a knack of smart lyrics and sweeping powerhouse vocals. "The Bullet," "Backsliding," and "Spinning Bottles" paint vivid pictures and unforgettable stories.    … Expand
  20. Boomer57
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Cry Pretty is a masterpiece!! Carrie's vocals are stunning! We know she sings all the high notes, but the low notes on this album are new to us and awesome. We get a little blues, R&B, Country, she tries so many styles that we haven't heard before! The best of our generation, and Cry Pretty is the highlight of her career!!
  21. KlebergKing
    Sep 19, 2018
    0
    I have been a long-time country music fan. And I still cannot believe how there are people, to this day, that praise a singer like Carrie Underwood. It angers me how glorified pop artists like Carrie get all the accolades, moreso than real country like Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Asleep at the Wheel, and Kacey Musgraves. I'm from Texas, so I sure as hell know my country, and thisI have been a long-time country music fan. And I still cannot believe how there are people, to this day, that praise a singer like Carrie Underwood. It angers me how glorified pop artists like Carrie get all the accolades, moreso than real country like Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Asleep at the Wheel, and Kacey Musgraves. I'm from Texas, so I sure as hell know my country, and this album is nothing but crappy pop, just like Sam Hunt and Florida-Georgia Line.

    The title track reminds me of Steel Panther, and not in a good way. What makes you think that if I want 80s-style hard rock, I would turn to Carrie Underwood? As for songs like Ghosts On The Stereo, don't you dare compare Carrie Underwood to a legend like Johnny Cash! As a singer that likes to pander to extreme far-right religious groups throughout her career, she is attempting to pander to the issue of the day (gun safety) with The Bullet as well as to LGBT rights groups with Love Wins. Look, I actually lean liberal myself, but I can tell when a song sounds like a cheap attempt. Many of the songs on this album are just so forgettable, you cannot put it in words. And The Champion sounds like a cheap attempt to cater to the hip-hop crowd by featuring Ludacris. The Champion sounds like the crappy jingles she does on NBC football.

    It is a crime to consider this collection of cliched songs country, let alone good country music. I am tired of Carrie getting overexposed on every damn country award show like she is some sort of saint. I am tired of people with talent getting skipped over in favor of manufactured pop. I'm just so sick of it!

    I do see some negative Metacritic reviews posted here. Maybe the chickens are coming home to roost after all.    … Expand
  22. quincyeyes
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Cry Pretty is a breath of fresh air from the title track to the final track on the album. It is a deeply moving album lyrically, vocally and musically. Carrie Underwood has never sounded better using her voice to emote what the lyrics are describing. She has also written some of the best songs of her career with Spinning Bottles, Low, Drinking Alone, Backsliding, and Cry Pretty. It isCry Pretty is a breath of fresh air from the title track to the final track on the album. It is a deeply moving album lyrically, vocally and musically. Carrie Underwood has never sounded better using her voice to emote what the lyrics are describing. She has also written some of the best songs of her career with Spinning Bottles, Low, Drinking Alone, Backsliding, and Cry Pretty. It is a country album but she explores the sounds of R&B, Pop, and boy does she explore the sounds of Soul and Blues. I highly recommend this album.… Expand
  23. dldonna
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Love this album,so personal.The Bullet,Low,Spinning Bottle are so real,heartbreaking.And then there ever so fum That Song and Soutbound! Great collection of songs ending with the ultra personal Kingdom which is just beautiful!

    Vocals are off the charts!
  24. Arbert
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    This is probably the best country album this year, and one of the best albums this year. There is no filler . Her vocal is on point in every single song. The emotion she shows is captivating.
  25. ewhite
    Sep 19, 2018
    0
    So disappointed.................................................. not her best
  26. davistrn
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Totally different sound and emotion than prior projects. Something for everyone and every mood.
  27. LucitoBreseno
    Sep 19, 2018
    10
    Cry Pretty album is a masterpiece. I cried listening to the songs The Bullet, Low, and Cry Pretty. Carrie Underwood's vocals is stunning and heavenly. The album is so hypnotic that I cannot stop listening to it on repeat. It is mesmerizing and spellbinding album. This is way above her five previous albums. In each songs there are different stylistic and artistic approach. Full ofCry Pretty album is a masterpiece. I cried listening to the songs The Bullet, Low, and Cry Pretty. Carrie Underwood's vocals is stunning and heavenly. The album is so hypnotic that I cannot stop listening to it on repeat. It is mesmerizing and spellbinding album. This is way above her five previous albums. In each songs there are different stylistic and artistic approach. Full of emotion. Very innovative hybrid of pop-country, soul-country, country-rock, and pure pop with different mixtures of elements. I love "That Song That We Used To Make Love To", "Drinking Alone", and "Low" to be singles in radio air wave. Kudos to Carrie Underwood.… Expand
  28. thepatriots
    Sep 18, 2018
    10
    This is definitely Carrie’s best album to date. She has matured as a songwriter and vocalist. I’m proud to be a fan!
  29. HospitalBryant
    Sep 18, 2018
    0
    KATE BUSH SHE IS NOT! Sorry, it has to be said, before people make Carrie out to be some Jesus or something.
  30. carrietx
    Sep 18, 2018
    10
    This wonderful album is my favorite since Some Hearts. Just brilliant in every way. Carrie Underwood's vocal performance is amazing. I love every song on the album -- production and performance simply outstanding. Best work to date by a great artist.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. PopMatters
    Oct 4, 2018
    60
    Her voice as a lyricist (she co-wrote two-thirds of the songs) tends to drift just a little, with the more specific songs working better. With the thick production on the album, it models radio trends but doesn't advance them. Given Underwood's talents, it would be exciting to see her craft a character-driven album and some quieter production.
    Read full review
  2. The A.V. Club
    Sep 21, 2018
    83
    Here the bluesy “Drinking Alone” transports you to a smoky bar where two lonely strangers find each other above their beer bottles, while “The Bullet” is a strong and surprising anti-gun-violence message from a country star. But it’s Underwood’s considerable resilience that shines through here.
    Read full review
  3. Uncut
    Sep 20, 2018
    50
    Overall it's a box-ticking collection unlikely to broaden her mainstream fanbase. [Nov 2018, p.37]
See all critic reviews »