Kellie Pickler: As American as apple pie and usually as sweet.

Sometimes there are people you know you would like if you met them. They seem down to earth and like they are a lot of fun. One of those people for me is Kellie Pickler. One of the biggest personalities from season five of American idol, she's found a lot of success on the country charts just being herself. She released her debut album first out of all the bigger names of that year and managed to nab some CMA nominations. Her debut album was a pleasant surprise and thankfully her second album follows in line. Only this time it's not really a surprise.

There are tons of great, upbeat songs on this sophomore effort. The first single "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" is about respecting yourself and loving yourself for who you are. I don't know why but it just seems right coming from Pickler. Even though she's a knockout I get the feeling she's struggled a little with her own self image so it seems sincere. Basically whether a guy is asking you to lose your virginity in the backseat, your husband dumps you for someone younger model or you just are trying to get used to being a teenager this song is a positive one. Her second single "Best Days Of Your Life" lets her ex-boyfriend know how much he is going to regret letting her go. Co-written with superstar sensation Taylor Swift, this may be her first number one.

Only Kellie Pickler could be winning and likable singing a song called "Rocks Instead of Rice". The whole premise of this song is that she's attending her ex-boyfriends wedding to another girl and she has her own little revenge fantasies that are quite humorous. "Long white limousine pulls up to the church, a sick part of me wishes it was a Hearse!" She delivers this with a big southern drawl which is all too real and although she knows this isn't a nice thing to think she's thinking it anyway. The music is typical country with some guitar, organ and piano and it's a blast.

"One Last Time" is one of the few ballads on the album and I am surprised at how nicely it works. Her voice is a humble, earnest one. She has a modest amount of power and lacks some range but it still makes an impact. There's such a simple sincerity that carries this song farther than her pipes ever could. Not that she doesn't occasionally pick ballads a little bigger than she can handle. "Somebody To Love Me" is one of those massive Faith Hill ballads (think "There You'll Be") that Pickler just doesn't have the voice for. Even though it's really beyond her reach she gives it her all. She's singing from the tips of her red high heels to the crown of her blonde wavy hair but she just can't hold the song from start to finish. She definitely gets an A for effort though. Kellie Pickler is just too loveable to clown on.

There are some definite missteps on this little country gem though. The ballad above, although not terrible, wasn't the best song choice.  Another one is "Going Out in Style" Kellie Pickler seems about as convincing talking about Jimmie Choo Choo's as Paris Hilton would be talking about blue collar work and Hamburger Helper. Thus, "Going Out In Style" is just plain silly. Actually, Pickler may have developed a shoe addiction since her days working at the local Sonic Drive-in, but in country music label dropping the names of shoes that cost $500.00 isn't the norm. It's got a saucy little horn arrangement that goes to waste when paired with this ill-conceived ode to frivolous shopping.

The truth is Kellie Pickler is pretty much irresistible when she's doing an up-tempo country pop song. Whether it be the completely likable "Making Me Fall In Love Again" or the perky "I'm Your Woman", she makes a song into something memorable with her sunny twang and down home persona. Out of ten tracks only one is skippable (Somebody To Love Me) and then there is another one that is laughable (Going Out In Style). Yet, even laughing you can't help thinking how gosh-darn nice Pickler is. Well, unless she's throwing rocks at your wedding.

RATINGS LIST
1. Don't Know You're Beautiful(4)   2. I'm Your Woman(3)   3. Rocks Instead of Rice(5)   4. Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You (4)   5. Lucky Girl (4)   6. One Last Time (4)   7. Best Days of Your Lives (5)   8. Somebody To Love Me (3)  9. Makin' Me Fall In Love (3) 
10. Going Out In Style (2) 

Average: 3.7 rounded up.