Track review: Carrie Underwood's "Cowboy Casanova"

In true country superstar form, Carrie Underwood reinvents herself on her latest single “Cowboy Casanova,” which serves as a tool to reacquaint her with fans after taking a short break this summer. Serving as the lead single off Underwood’s third studio album, ‘Play On’ (Nov. 3), “Casanova” allows her to extend experimentation in the “country rock” arena.

Aided by talented songwriters Brett James and Mike Elizondo, Underwood uses metaphors and similes in abundance to help warn her friends that the “cool drink of water” is actually a “snake with blue eyes” and the verses are complete with staccato phrases that show off her ability to tell a stylized story through her vocals.

Speaking of vocals, Underwood does not disappoint on the track despite the notion that she usually stands out more on her ballad efforts than her uptempos. On “Casanova,” however, Underwood is able to fulfill the role of a woman fooled by love and so the emotion within her vocals sounds genuine, with her stunning range demonstrated especially on the final chorus.

Although it is not on the same level as “Before He Cheats” and it lacks the inspiring subject matter that has come to be expected on Carrie Underwood’s lead-off singles (“Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “So Small”), it cannot be denied that “Cowboy Casanova” is a solid country rock track that will keep her career going in the right direction.

Play On is due out Tues., Nov. 3, and is available to pre-order on Amazon.com.