Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert sang about burning down the house of her cheating ex in the title track of Kerosene. On her sophomore album, the high-maintenance Jezebel comes back shooting with the roadhouse rocker "Gunpowder and Lead." The aptly titled Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a near perfect album that overflows with beer-soaked, libidinous country rock, even on the traditional twang of "Dry Town," a self-descriptive song. More mellow numbers, such as the weepy honky-tonk ditty "Love Letters" and the moving "Desperation," prove that the little hell-raiser with the big voice is hardly a one-trick pony.

Garth Brooks fan turned Nashville Star discovery Lambert stormed the country charts with
the incendiary "Kerosene" in 2005. Now she tops herself on what will likely remain the
country album of the year. Just twenty-three, Lambert plays the rebel girl, revving up the
mood of the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl" and Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman." On the
lead track, she waits on an abusive boyfriend with her shotgun; on the title trac... More >

Garth Brooks fan turned Nashville Star discovery Miranda Lambert stormed the country charts with the incendiary promises of "Gasoline" in 2005. Now she tops herself on what will likely remain the country album of the year. Just twenty-three, Lambert plays the rebel girl, revving up the mood of the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl" and Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman." On the lead track, she waits on an abusive boyfriend with her shotgun; on the title track, she leaves her pistol in the car and wades into the bar bare-handed. Lambert does have a thoughtful side. But the violent moments define a little lady who also cites the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb" and rocks a Patty Griffin cover. Smoking. (Grade - ****)