BarlowGirl - 'Another Journal Entry'

• Style: Rock with some excellent power ballads thrown in
• 11 tracks (including a remix of Never Alone)
• Released: September 27, 2005

Pros

It's the BarlowGirls - need I say more? I don't believe that the girls have had a single bad song day (and that includes live performances)

Cons

My only complaint was the radio remix of "Never Alone". I fell in love with the original version and just couldn't get into the acoustic version.

I looked forward to the BarlowGirl's sophmore release, but it was with a little bit of trepidation, because I honestly didn't know how they could possible top their debut release. I needn't have worried because somehow, they did just that.

The album opens with the typical hard-hitting "Grey" and continues with "Let Go." I doubt you can listen to either one without moving - it's just impossible. Track #3, "I Need You To Love Me," threw me for a minute because it starts out slow and builds as does "Enough." These are perfect examples of what we used to call "power ballads." Track #5, "Porcelain Heart," is the sleeper of this release - this folks, is your next "Never Alone!" Piano driven with a sweet strings arrangement in the background with perfect vocal harmonies make this song an AC hit just waiting to hit the air. Track #7, "Take Me Away," takes you right back into the rock fray - but it's got a strong keyboard presence in the beginning. "Psalm 73 (My God's Enough)" comes in hard and fast ... probably the last thing you'd expect for a song with a title like that. This was another personal favorite. Think anthem for 2005 and you've nailed this song on the head. "5 Minutes Of Fame" is 100% fun! It's not auto-biographical though so don't worry!

"Thoughts Of You" is #9 and it's probably the sweetest ballad on the CD. Nice and easy all the way through ... it shows that the girls have a soft side underneath the rock 'n roll! But don't let yourself slow down too much because "No One Like You" cranks back up to 100 mph. The last track, the radio remix of "Never Alone" was the only disappointing moment for me out of the entire release. The original tune was perfect the way it was and I really missed the hard-hitting moments. But hey, we can't have everything we want in life ... right?

Even with that little disappointment, it didn't change my overall opinion of the CD. The girls outdid themselves once again.