I don't get the NY Times review stating she lacks identity.
They make it seem as if she's been inconsistent over her whole career, but she's never released songs from a personal perspective and has always released songs in story form. Like?
Yes, her single "Smoke Break" works, as Underwood rocks out a bit while championing some of the ways the working class lets off a little steam. But man, "Renegade Runaway" is bad, as she talks of "a sure shot, knock the ash off a smoking cigarette." And, Jesus-take-the-wheel, "Mexico" is worse, as she worries, "If they get the cuffs on us, it's 25-to-life," before telling her partner in crime to "look for the golden sombrero."
LINLYA sounds like one of the stronger tracks, I'm glad it's getting praised.
It's well deserved. It definitely caught my attention upon the first note. I wonder what song they were crying to at the Nashville listening session. I just can't really see it with WINKIAW, maybe it was to LINLYA