Deana Carter: I'm Just A Girl : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Country music veteran Deana Carter has a sweet, babydoll voice and resembles a good 'ol southern version of Naomi Watts. She's also well-connected: Her daddy played guitar for Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, and Dwight Yoakam sings with her on the bittersweet, lovelorn "Waiting." I'm Just a Girl's shining moments are sandwiched between weaker tracks that either cloud Carter's vocals with sugary arrangements or fall flat with trite school-girl diary lyrics. But when she does enter the light, it's glaring and unmistakable, as on the aggressively playful, guitar-heavy pop song, "Liar," and the tangy, tongue-in-cheek, "You and Tequila." Carter could benefit by taking more playful risks instead of worrying about, as she puts it, getting on the "Cover of a Magazine."

KERRY SMITH
(March 18, 2003)