Carrie Underwood - "Smoke Break"

[samsager3]

As harsh of a critic as I've been of her recent music, even I can't complain about this. It's amazing it's like she took her old music that I loved and infused with the sound of her new stuff and it sounds great way to go Carrie and after all those horrible rocking songs way to get a fan back.

[matty005]

Aug 20, 2015 19:21:39 GMT -5 zack97 said:

Aug 20, 2015 18:51:02 GMT -5 matty005 said:

I know a lot of people agree with your above statement, but life IS a drunk and fun party for a lot of people too. Especially people 30 and under. So just because it's not how, "it really is" for you, doesn't mean it's not real life for some people.

But that's not what life is ALL about, you can't tell me that people party all the time. Thats not a lifestyle. People have jobs and lives they need to attend to, and this song is a perfect example of what life really is about. I'm sure people party and get drunk and do other stuff to get away from reality time to time as they do in bro-country songs SOMETIMES (which, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to turn this into the 8675th attempt at bashing bro-country) but the fact is, life isn't sunshine and rainbows, and there is stress involved with the everyday life. That's what I was trying to get at. That's why this song is so highly relatable.

I agree with you - this song is VERY relatable. But a lot of bro country songs are also VERY relatable to a certain age group. When you're 21, still in college, working a part time job so you have beer money, your college is paid for by your parents and you really have no worries other than what beer will I be drinking this week, songs like this are not relatable. Songs by FGL are. Now, with that said, I agree with you again, that I would love to have a mix of songs. But I'd rather Carrie sing these type of songs and let FGL sing their type of songs.

[McCreerian (Harris 2024!)]

Aug 20, 2015 22:43:12 GMT -5 matty005 said:

Aug 20, 2015 19:21:39 GMT -5 zack97 said:

But that's not what life is ALL about, you can't tell me that people party all the time. Thats not a lifestyle. People have jobs and lives they need to attend to, and this song is a perfect example of what life really is about. I'm sure people party and get drunk and do other stuff to get away from reality time to time as they do in bro-country songs SOMETIMES (which, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to turn this into the 8675th attempt at bashing bro-country) but the fact is, life isn't sunshine and rainbows, and there is stress involved with the everyday life. That's what I was trying to get at. That's why this song is so highly relatable.

I agree with you - this song is VERY relatable. But a lot of bro country songs are also VERY relatable to a certain age group. When you're 21, still in college, working a part time job so you have beer money, your college is paid for by your parents and you really have no worries other than what beer will I be drinking this week, songs like this are not relatable. Songs by FGL are. Now, with that said, I agree with you again, that I would love to have a mix of songs. But I'd rather Carrie sing these type of songs and let FGL sing their type of songs.

In other words Carrie is giving the grown ups in the room music we can love too!

[countrygirl918]

This took a few listens for me to really love it, but I do. It's not at all what I was expecting from Carrie, and I think that's a good thing. I am really intrigued to hear the album after the way she's been describing it (more twangy/traditional than ever before). I have a feeling "Smoke Break" will continue to grow on me the more I hear it, and I'm thinking the music video will help as well. Looking forward to seeing that on Monday.

[dm2081]

Never been a huge fan of Carrie, but I did enjoy this one on first listen. There's a couple of issues I have with the lyrics but nothing I can't look past. I really appreciate that she doesn't belt on this one, and tones down her voice just a bit. She definitely played it safe with this lead single, and it's probably a smart decision. I don't think this one will have much trouble reaching #1, and it should be another big hit for her.

[14887fan]

I think the thing I love the most about this song is how I was so caught off-guard by it, altogether.

I knew new music was going to be announced and released today; we all did, if we were paying any attention to the Aircheck ads and buzz building up over the past week and a half. I knew that she was pushing, and promised, a sonic shift in this album's production. It was very clear that she was going for lyrical value over arena bouncing anthems like she's done int he past with her boy bashers. But, this was very different because of just how different it really is from anything she's ever done. It didn't click with me all that quickly at first because I couldn't figure out what to compare it to in her catalog that made sense. Asking what my favorite lead single of hers is with this included in the poll would be so incredibly difficult for me. Comparing it to Miranda Lambert, as many already have, actually frustrates me. It doesn't frustrate me so much because of its musical similarities, but because we've got the only two women in the genre that are actually able to score hits and attention with ease, and comments I saw on Twitter from Miranda fans about about the song (again, on Twitter; not on Pulse) were absolutely slamming Carrie for her "lack of originality." While I understand their frustrations, the feminist in me gets heated to absolutely no end that we've only got 2 prime women in this genre that are trying to pull the rest by a rope and radio's sitting there with a pair of scissors, and there's people pitting them against each other as if it's Survivor. I'm thrilled that Carrie's put out a song that's seen as being cut from the same cloth as her primary female contemporary.

So my main struggle was trying to find a way to compare it to something else in order to measure just how much I love it, and now I see that there's really nothing for me to compare it to in order for me to make such a call. Judging it by a standalone, independent release that really, truly does define the beginning of "decade #2" for Carrie? I really, really do love it. I'm so excited for this album.

ETA: Wait, I have one issue. The first and second lines of the first chorus both end with "drink" and I feeeeeeeeel like they could've come up with something other than just repeating the same word. That's the only time that happens in the whole song, which is why it sticks out negatively to me. *overlooks it anyways*

[kw9461]

For a Carrie Underwood song, i have to say I quite like this. It definitely sounds like a Miranda Lambert song (to the point that I think I might enjoy it better if Miranda were singing it, I've just always preferred her voice), but the chorus is more in Underwood's wheelhouse. There are definitely a few nits to pick here; Jay Joyce overproduces the hell out of the chorus and the lyrics are a little short on specifics but that's fairly minor stuff. I like that the melody is undeniably country (particularly in the current trend chasing climate) and that Underwood refrains from any belting. Plus it's nice to see her release something mid-tempo - she seems to go either sassy up-tempo or weighty power ballad with little in between.

[Spidey]

I like this! But... why must they release the album the same week as 5 Seconds to Summer? Probably going to miss out on #1 because of that.

[.indulgecountry]

It's been said before, but when I started listening to this for the first time I instantly felt "this sounds so much like a Miranda Lambert song." I think it's funny also considering that her own current single is "Smokin' and Drinkin'," lol. Definitely enjoy this a lot, though my one gripe is that the production (mainly the chorus) is a little too much like a wall of noise to me and I would've loved to hear it sound a bit more organic and less 'everything at once at full volume' which is what I got from it. I'm just not a huge fan of Jay Joyce as a producer so I feel I would've loved this a lot more if it had been handled by Mark Bright, so I'm a little disappointed she switched producers for this.

That said, I love the difference in feel of the song thematically from Carrie and I enjoy the lyrics and vocals a lot as well, so I'm looking forward to seeing this do well and end that damn No. 1 drought on BB country airplay.

[tim]

Wow, this has to be my favorite lead single from Carrie to date. I really like this! I saw some comments above referencing they were disappointed this wasn't as epic-sounding as they were hoping (a la "Something in the Water" and "Little Toy Guns"), but I find Carrie is at her best when not doing that. I much prefer the "Don't Forget To Remember Me" and "See You Again" Carrie vs. the other big production songs, so this is a breath of fresh air for sure.

[43dudleyvillas]

Aug 20, 2015 22:43:12 GMT -5 matty005 said:

When you're 21, still in college, working a part time job so you have beer money, your college is paid for by your parents and you really have no worries other than what beer will I be drinking this week, songs like this are not relatable.

This encapsulates exactly what I find to be so ridiculous about the all-beer, all-party all-the-time point of view of the FGLs of the format. I would be hard-pressed to find a twenty-one year old in college not worrying about what kind of job they might wind up with after college or where they might wind up for grad school, med school, law school, etc. Beyond that, a twenty-one year old college student so disengaged from current events and the world that they would "really have no worries other than what beer will [he or she] be drinking this week" sounds obscenely irresponsible.

In any event, about "Smoke Break": it'll do -- I like the melody, I like that the phrases in the verses are at times elongated beyond what I would have expected, I like hearing Carrie identify herself as country with her vocal choices and via the instrumentation, and I like that this song is about behaving like a grown-up. If Carrie is going to sing about escapism, "Smoke Break" takes the approach that I prefer (especially in comparison to "One Way Ticket" from Blown Away, which I never liked). I think I like what "Smoke Break" stands for in some respects even more than I do the song itself -- I like that the first verse is about a mother working multiple jobs and up to her ears in family responsibilities and I like that that verse stands side-by-side with a second verse about a guy with his own story. I think that Carrie's shift of focus to the working adult makes sense at this point in her life (which is to say, I think she comes by it honestly as a new mother juggling more responsibilities than ever before; this doesn't read to me as an artificially populist turn).

What I don't like here: 14887fan already mentioned "drink...drink" line (it's just going to bug me), and I think that there's a disconnect between the first two-thirds of the song, which are really about these people understanding the need for escape via vices like drinking and smoking (not about indulging in those vices themselves), and the last third, which is about indulging in those vices. I think the song would have worked better (and played better as a commentary on country radio's bent for the past few years) had it stuck to the notion of understanding the temptation to indulge. "Smoke Break" is also not, as layne mentioned, the unassailably-written game-changer that I think Carrie has in her to deliver.

But at the same time, Carrie has been pushing against the tide at country radio for several singles in a row, and if "Smoke Break" is somewhat of a conciliatory gesture to country radio, it's one that doesn't give away too much, in my view. It still feels like a statement song to me, sonically and in terms of the characters Carrie is interested in depicting. Her voice is tailor-made for country-rock/Southern rock, and she sounds terrific and really comfortable here, even before she lets loose. So like I said, this will do, especially if intended as a transition into the twangier, more story-driven album that Carrie is teasing.

[Deleted]

Only listened a couple times so far, but I absolutely love this. This has a bit more of a country flavor to it than most of her recent singles have had. Don't get me wrong -- I absolutely loved "Little Toy Guns" and "Blown Away" in particular (especially the latter), but something about "Smoke Break" makes it sound even a bit better to my ears.

I think this will probably wind up being my favorite lead single from Carrie. It's hard to compare right now since this is still so fresh-sounding, whereas I've heard "Jesus, Take The Wheel", "So Small", "Cowboy Casanova", "Good Girl", and "Something In The Water" hundreds of times by now...but yeah, I'm really loving this one.

[sbp17]

So I'll give the bad before the good.

It does sound very Lambertish, almost to the point of seeming like Carrie is covering a Miranda song, particularly the verses. In fact, is there a Miranda song with a similar melody or chord progression in the verses? This would not be so bad if, as 14887fan alluded to, radio did not pretty much limit country airplay for females to MIranda and Carrie over the past several years. So it stands out a little more when one of the two females sings a song in the same vein as that of another. It just feels a little too close in style for the lead single. Also, while I feel like Lindsey is a more than competent songwriter, this song highlights my issue with most of her songs. It's like she finishes a painting with a few small white spots that still need to be filled in. Her songs are just not quite fleshed out enough for me (as compared with some of my favorite female songwriters like Matraca Berg, Gretchen Peters, Mary Chapin Carpenter).

Now to the good...overall, my first impression was a pleased one. It's a country song, sonically, vocally and lyrically. It's interesting and refreshing that when country radio leans more pop, Carrie decides to go more country than her previous lead singles. I like how it's a mix of sinner and saint so that it does not come off as preachy so it allows Carrie to still sing of her faith but without necessarily coming across as 'holier than thou'. Her vocals, of course, are great. And while I think it does sound akin to Miranda, it also sounds like a song that would fit perfectly on a CD next to Wasted so there's definitely the undeniable Carrie Underwood stamp on it.

Right now, I give it a 7 out of 10.

[justlurkingaround]

It's already up to #37 on iTunes with green updates.

I've been trying to get into this since I heard it, and I'm failing. It's not that it's twangy or that it's more on the traditional side, it's that I find the lyrics to be not developed enough for me to get into the story being told and the song doesn't feel catchy enough especially with a chorus that rhymes drink with drink.
I think Carrie can do better and she has done better than this, but I sincerely do hope this isn't a sample of how the album will be because it's a step back for her as a songwriter =.

[matty005]

Aug 21, 2015 0:46:02 GMT -5 43dudleyvillas said:

Aug 20, 2015 22:43:12 GMT -5 matty005 said:

When you're 21, still in college, working a part time job so you have beer money, your college is paid for by your parents and you really have no worries other than what beer will I be drinking this week, songs like this are not relatable.

This encapsulates exactly what I find to be so ridiculous about the all-beer, all-party all-the-time point of view of the FGLs of the format. I would be hard-pressed to find a twenty-one year old in college not worrying about what kind of job they might wind up with after college or where they might wind up for grad school, med school, law school, etc. Beyond that, a twenty-one year old college student so disengaged from current events and the world that they would "really have no worries other than what beer will [he or she] be drinking this week" sounds obscenely irresponsible.

Not saying you have to agree with it or it's responsible, Dud, but trust me, there are PLENTY of young adults who have that mentality.

[leilamaurizia]

And so it begins...

0 50 CARRIE UNDERWOOD Smoke Break 602 0 602 3.609

[Marv]

Looks like another top 30 debut on the BB chart is a mortal lock, and doing likewise @ Mediabase is attainable as well.

Country radio was definitely ready for this.

[carrieidol1]

About the drink/drink line, it bothers me a little too... For the life of me, though, I can't figure out a replacement word or phrase that would fit well with the following line's "glass".

[Dustin J.]

This makes two songs in a row from Carrie that I've enjoyed.

And it also proves that Jay Joyce is still excellent at what he does...and he doesn't need to "push the envelope" on everything he produces.

[Deleted]

I LOVE this song, with each listen it grows on me. Love the twang in her voice and love a new producer. Fantastic! That's the only words. I think at least a Grammy nomination is probable. We'll see how the CMA's treat her this year before I say country show nominations, but I think a CMA entertainer of the year is definitely in the works for 2016.

[14887fan]

It's now #5 all-genre on iTunes. Moved up from #8 in just under an hour. This is moving very, very well. #1 on Country, as well as on the UK's chart. It's also available for streaming on all services now.

[carrieidol1]

Aug 21, 2015 9:12:07 GMT -5 14887fan said:

It's now #5 all-genre on iTunes. Moved up from #8 in just under an hour. This is moving very, very well. #1 on Country, as well as on the UK's chart. It's also available for streaming on all services now.

#4

[The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷]

I quite like this actually! I'm not the biggest fan of her tone, it's a bit too nasal for me, but I like that she doesn't go over the top with the belting on this one.
Like some people already pointed out, it does sound like a "Miranda Lambert song" (even the way Carrie sings it on some parts, like the middle 8 por example), but I think it's a good fit for Carrie as well. I'm sure it will do well on radio!

[NeRD]

On first listen, I absolutely love it. The second verse hits home in particular. :'(

Buying it now. :)

[carrieidol1]

Took about 12 hours to get into the top 3 on iTunes... not bad!

[bornfearless2000]

Aug 21, 2015 9:50:32 GMT -5 carrieidol1 said:

Took about 12 hours to get into the top 3 on iTunes... not bad!

It will be #1 SOON

[Deleted]

Aug 20, 2015 22:59:34 GMT -5 14887fan said:

I think the thing I love the most about this song is how I was so caught off-guard by it, altogether.

I knew new music was going to be announced and released today; we all did, if we were paying any attention to the Aircheck ads and buzz building up over the past week and a half. I knew that she was pushing, and promised, a sonic shift in this album's production. It was very clear that she was going for lyrical value over arena bouncing anthems like she's done int he past with her boy bashers. But, this was very different because of just how different it really is from anything she's ever done. It didn't click with me all that quickly at first because I couldn't figure out what to compare it to in her catalog that made sense. Asking what my favorite lead single of hers is with this included in the poll would be so incredibly difficult for me. Comparing it to Miranda Lambert, as many already have, actually frustrates me. It doesn't frustrate me so much because of its musical similarities, but because we've got the only two women in the genre that are actually able to score hits and attention with ease, and comments I saw on Twitter from Miranda fans about about the song (again, on Twitter; not on Pulse) were absolutely slamming Carrie for her "lack of originality." While I understand their frustrations, the feminist in me gets heated to absolutely no end that we've only got 2 prime women in this genre that are trying to pull the rest by a rope and radio's sitting there with a pair of scissors, and there's people pitting them against each other as if it's Survivor. I'm thrilled that Carrie's put out a song that's seen as being cut from the same cloth as her primary female contemporary.

So my main struggle was trying to find a way to compare it to something else in order to measure just how much I love it, and now I see that there's really nothing for me to compare it to in order for me to make such a call. Judging it by a standalone, independent release that really, truly does define the beginning of "decade #2" for Carrie? I really, really do love it. I'm so excited for this album.

ETA: Wait, I have one issue. The first and second lines of the first chorus both end with "drink" and I feeeeeeeeel like they could've come up with something other than just repeating the same word. That's the only time that happens in the whole song, which is why it sticks out negatively to me. *overlooks it anyways*

Honestly, I don't understand why Miranda's fans would be so angry considering her biggest HOT 100 hit was on the duet with Carrie. I definitely think the two of them collaborating on "Somethin' Bad" may have influenced Carrie to make at least a song in the vain of Miranda's songs.

[.indulgecountry]

I don't see why people always feel the need to pit women against each other either, but I'm honestly really sick of it. But for me personally, I love that this sounds like a Miranda Lambert-style tune because I really love Miranda Lambert, so she's certainly leaning on a general feel that I've come to love.

Imagine though if the male artists were slammed in a similar fashion for constantly releasing singles left and right that all sound like one another, but hardly anyone seems to really care/notice these days.

[sgtoddball]

I like this. As far as the Miranda comparisions go, I don't get it. All the men in the Genre copy each other and send out songs that are the same ideas and sounds soncially. If I had to nit pick this I would just say I don't think it's the best story song Carrie has told but I think it's a welcome different story. It reminds me of Lee Brice's "Drinking Class" but with a female POV.

[ant]

I think the only reason people are comparing it Miranda is because Carrie's style is usually different than hers, and Carrie normally doesn't release songs in that twangy vein like Miranda does. So it's just a comparison and I don't think people are "pitting them against each other" (myself included).