Various Artists - Girls' Night Out (CD)

All Music Guide

Unlike other country western, diva collaborations, no one or two women outshine or overshadow the others on this harmless recording. While Lorrie Morgan ("Heart That Jack Broke," "Good As I Was to You") demonstrates the most thigh-slappin' chutzpah of the crowd, Martina McBride is the best and most authentic sounding singer, unafraid to belt those salutes to feminine freedom with the catchy "Independence Day" and promise-filled "'Til I Can Make It on My Own." Radio dial darlings Mindy McCready ("Ten Thousand Angels," "Over and Over") and her pal Sara Evans ("Three Chords and the Truth," "Almost New") have clear, competent voices but lack the subtle (or unsubtle) winning-ticket surprises that Morgan and McCready whip out occasionally. McBride's "Happy Girl" is a great, wonderfully written ode to sexual shyness with a fun melody: "I'm standin in a corner/with my concrete shoes/With my frozen smile/And a lighted fuse." But someone needs to sit Evans down for a real talking-to on the matt...er of song selection, since "Cryin' Game" is the most dismally cliché-clogged tune to drip out of the pipe in a long time: "Bring me your love/Don't bring me pain/I've had enough of the crying game/Give me love/Don't tell me lies/I've had enough of your alibis." No, no, no Get someone to keep an eye on these gals while they put these ambitious records together. Still, a good country, clear record for a good country, clear day. - Becky Byrkit, All Music Guide Read more Less