Customer Reviews

Dress Rehearsal

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Picked up this cd on the day of release as I was very excited for it, beng a huge supporter of her first album. I enjoy this album an awful lot. The lead off single "Simple Life" is just so fun and catchy even though the writing talents of CDJ are not displayed. However another fun tune is "Squeezin The Love Outta You." This one is just a great time. As is "Head over High Heels." I love puttign these tunes on in the car. The title track is an incredibly written tune. CDJ is just a great writer and it shows.
One complaint. Her lyrics are always way above average however, some of them do not neccesarily translate to song. They may be better served as poetry than lyrics. This is nto to say there is a bad song on the album, it is just that some of the feel is not as good as it could be with these weighty lyrics.

Prime Cuts: We Talked, God Doesn't Make Mistakes, Just Another Plane

Being the creator of such hits such as "I'd Be Yours" (Linda Davis), "Single White Female" (Chely Wright), "When We Don't Talk" (Ilse DeLange) amongst others, Johnson has parlayed her craft to this her sophomore album "Dress Rehearsal." Save for "Simple Life," Johnson has had a hand in co-writing all of the tracks here. Collaborating with other Nashville writing elite such as Craig Wiseman, Shaye Smith, Charlie Black, Troy Verges, "Dress Rehearsal" is tailored made for radio. It's a polished pop country album offering a cornucopia of songs dealing with topics safely reprised within country music's canon.

Johnson's preference for the rustic life, a theme well explored a la Alan Jackson and Mary Chapin Carpenter, is the thesis of the lead single "Simple Life." "Simple Life" starts off well with an organic feel with some jaunty guitar work but soon gives way to become, in an ironic way, one of Johnson's busiest track. With its tepid melody and suffocating production, "Simple Life" is not my choice for the first single. Much better are "High over High Heels" and "He's Mine"-both peppy, upbeat, pop-country fares that would not be out of place in fellow Canadian vocalist Shania Twain's repertoire.

Living in the aftermath of 9/11 country music, thanks to Tim McGraw, Brad Cotter, Alan Jackson, have been proliferated with songs encouraging us to cherish life and cape diem ("seize the day"). Johnson adds her take on this tired and true theme on the title track "Dress Rehearsal." Without any shove of new insights, nevertheless, Johnson sings home a timely message, "Life doesn't wait for us to get it right... Time is irreversible, this ain't no dress rehearsal."

However, the album's most gratifying moments come when the beat tapers; Johnson's never sounded more sincere than when she sings a ballad. Caressing the lyrics with her mellifluous vocals, Johnson makes the plaintive ballad and current single "Die of a Broken Heart" an event to be experienced. Similarly touching is the therapeutic "We Talked" and the ingratiating "Just Another Plane." The latter, being a little reminiscent of Deana Carter's excellent "People Miss Trains" has a timbre of pain to it that is just moving. Dove tailing Nashville's obsession with songs with inspirational messages, "God Doesn't Make Mistakes" details a homily of self-acceptance that most of us should take to heart. With its restrained guitar backing, Johnson sensitively sings, "I'm ok the way God made me... I'm always gonna be a better me than anyone else. God doesn't make mistake." A track aplomb with relevancy and performed with sensitivity.

However, not all the songs work here. Being too eager to placate the support of country radio, Dann Huff's production is at times too crowded. "Life As We Know It," "Squeezin' the Love out of You," "My Little Secret" (the follow up to Johnson's breakthrough hit "Complicated") are entertaining but forgettable. Maybe, Johnson's also suffering from the second album slum: some of these melodies here are not as strong as her debut effort. Anyway, despite such criticism, there are enough songs here, especially the ballads, that warrant repeated listens to this worthy though not stellar album.

This is CD is incredible! I love it! Every song is fantastic!! I especially love "Squeezin' The Love Outta You", "Head over High Heels" and of course, her latest single, "Die of a Broken Heart". This is a must have CD if you are a country fan!!

Carolyn Dawn Johnson's second album DRESS REHEARSAL was well worth the wait for me. I was really impressed with her debut album ROOM WITH A VIEW, and highly anticipated this one. The first single (the only song she didn't write on the album) was "Simple Life", and it was a mild hit entering the top 20. It's a nice bluegrass tinged song about appreciating the simpler things in life. The second single was the heartbreaking ballad "Die of a Broken Heart", which I will admit I wasn't keen on at first but it grew on me. The album falls between fun uptempo songs and moving ballads, there's a good balance between the two. The third single is "Head Over High Heels" which will hopefully be a big hit, it's instantly catchy and memorable. "Squeezin the Love Out Of You" is a nice attitude song. "He's Mine" is good too. The album closer "I'll Let You Go" is a moving ballad, about her brother (just like the title track from her first album was). Other highlights include the inspirational title track.

Prime Cuts: We Talked, God Doesn't Make Mistakes, Just Another Plane

Being the creator of such hits such as "I'd Be Yours" (Linda Davis), "Single White Female" (Chely Wright), "When We Don't Talk" (Ilse DeLange) amongst others, Johnson has parlayed her craft to this her sophomore album "Dress Rehearsal." Save for "Simple Life," Johnson has had a hand in co-writing all of the tracks here. Collaborating with other Nashville writing elite such as Craig Wiseman, Shaye Smith, Charlie Black, Troy Verges, "Dress Rehearsal" is tailored made for radio. It's a polished pop country album offering a cornucopia of songs dealing with topics safely reprised within country music's canon.

Johnson's preference for the rustic life, a theme well explored a la Alan Jackson and Mary Chapin Carpenter, is the thesis of the lead single "Simple Life." "Simple Life" starts off well with an organic feel with some jaunty guitar work but soon gives way to become, in an ironic way, one of Johnson's busiest track. With its tepid melody and suffocating production, "Simple Life" is not my choice for the first single. Much better are "High over High Heels" and "He's Mine"-both peppy, upbeat, pop-country fares that would not be out of place in fellow Canadian vocalist Shania Twain's repertoire.

Living in the aftermath of 9/11 country music, thanks to Tim McGraw, Brad Cotter, Alan Jackson, have been proliferated with songs encouraging us to cherish life and cape diem ("seize the day"). Johnson adds her take on this tired and true theme on the title track "Dress Rehearsal." Without any shove of new insights, nevertheless, Johnson sings home a timely message, "Life doesn't wait for us to get it right... Time is irreversible, this ain't no dress rehearsal."

However, the album's most gratifying moments come when the beat tapers; Johnson's never sounded more sincere than when she sings a ballad. Caressing the lyrics with her mellifluous vocals, Johnson makes the plaintive ballad and current single "Die of a Broken Heart" an event to be experienced. Similarly touching is the therapeutic "We Talked" and the ingratiating "Just Another Plane." The latter, being a little reminiscent of Deana Carter's excellent "People Miss Trains" has a timbre of pain to it that is just moving. Dove tailing Nashville's obsession with songs with inspirational messages, "God Doesn't Make Mistakes" details a homily of self-acceptance that most of us should take to heart. With its restrained guitar backing, Johnson sensitively sings, "I'm ok the way God made me... I'm always gonna be a better me than anyone else. God doesn't make mistake." A track aplomb with relevancy and performed with sensitivity.

However, not all the songs work here. Being too eager to placate the support of country radio, Dann Huff's production is at times too crowded. "Life As We Know It," "Squeezin' the Love out of You," "My Little Secret" (the follow up to Johnson's breakthrough hit "Complicated") are entertaining but forgettable. Maybe, Johnson's also suffering from the second album slum: some of these melodies here are not as strong as her debut effort. Anyway, despite such criticism, there are enough songs here, especially the ballads, that warrant repeated listens to this worthy though not stellar album.

I had always thought that Carolyn Dawn Johnson's album "Room With A View" was the best album that she could possibly cut. That is until I heard the songs on this "Dress Rehearsal" Cd. I have never been so wrong. This cd is GREAT!!! Although I like just about every song on this album, the ones that have made me hit the "repeat" button on my player are: "Simple Life", "He's Mine" and "My Little Secret". I would reccomend this CD to all country music fans even if they are not currently CDJ fans like me.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson has avoided any idea of a sophomore jinx for her with an outstanding CD in DRESS REHEARSAL. CDJ is writing from her heart, for her and for her fans! A few years into the biz since her RWAV CD hit the shelves and NOW married to Matt, these songs relate to where she/they are in life RIGHT NOW! AND we all can relate to many songs ourselves on this great CD. Her voice isn't as powerful as Martina's...BUT who's is? Carolyn is setting setting the standard for great songwriting, true to life storytelling, with a wonderful sweetness in her voice that makes you love her and her music! If you don't have this CD...get it! 5 stars all the way!

CDJ returns with a smashing sophmore album, "Dress Rehearsal", which has the capabilities of propelling CDJ into Diva status. Each track is perfected with her touch and becomes a true story.
1) Dress Rehearsal- great song, makes you want to stop and think about what you are doing in your life.
2) He's Mine-Great Chorus
3) Simple Life- An unbeat song that deserves to be bigger than it is.
4)Die of a broken heart- great emotion is shown.
5) We Talked- a great couples song to inspire them to talk.
6)God doesnt make mistakes - how true is that? Great song
7)Sqeezing the love outta you - Fav. song on the album, should be the next single.
8)Head over High Heels- Another great song that could be huge.
9)My Secret- another fav. I have listened to this song the most off of the whole cd.
10)Just another plane- touching song
11)Life as we know it- this song is the highlight.
12) Ill let you go - written about her brother, it is a great song that is sung great.

Carolyn's first album was okay. To me, it lacked a certain undefinable something that relegated to "just okay" status.

But this one is great. The songs are better, the sound is better, it's just a much more enjoyable album.

Buy it if you like this kind of sound, which is a little pop and a little country and maybe a little folk (oh god! not folk!)(okay, it's not folkish, but the songs have lyrics that are better than the standard country fare, which to me leans toward "folk").

Buy it, you'll like it!

Carolyn Dawn Johnson started off her career as a backing singer in Martina McBride's band aswell as an accomplished songwriter.
She continues on from her debut with Dress Rehearsal,an excellent collection of pop/country songs about everyday life that everyone can relate to.
Included are the singles He's Mine,Dress Rehearsal and the beautiful ballad Die Of A Broken Heart.
There's some great catchy uptempos like Squeezin' The Love Outta You,My Little Secret and Simple Life aswell as some lovely ballads such as God Doesn't Make Mistakes,Just Another Plane and the heartfelt I'll Let You Go.
If you're a fan of Martina McBride,you'll love Carolyn's refreshing sound and strong vocals.Highly recommended!