Deana Carter struck a blow for crossover country with her 1996 breakthrough, the memorably titled Did I Shave My Legs for This?, a record with slick steel-guitar credibility for Southern malls but enough wit and heart to translate for pop fans. On Everything's Gonna Be Alright, Carter sharpens her signature sound, singing in a wispy, fluid voice with a much lighter touch than most big-money country stars. She shines in teary ballads like "Michelangelo Sky" (where love conquers all), "Absence of the Heart" (where love goes sour) and "People Miss Planes" (with a cliffhanger ending that leaves you guessing, though I bet she gets on the plane and leaves the creep behind). Sometimes Carter's rock moves get clumsy – the fake fade-out of "Never Comin' Down" grates, and the cover of Melanie's "Brand New Key" gives new meaning to the word ill-advised. But "You Still Shake Me" is a winningly lubricious ode to post-breakup lust set to the guitar riff from ZZ Top's "Tush." And "The Train Song" blows off some serious steam, especially when Carter sputters, "I'm gonna love you like a f-f-freight train." Any country singer who can make the old train-as-sex metaphor sound dirty again is definitely doing something right. (RS 798)

ROB SHEFFIELD