So what does 30 feel like? It feels a lot older when you’re 30 than when you’re 60 and Miranda Lambert, the excellent country singer, Mrs. Blake Shelton to you, tackles it head on in this very good 16 track retrofit takes inventory as to how she went from a Steve Earle wannabe in 2005 to a crazy ex to a mainstream bombshell and now if not an elder statesman of country, certainly one of the heavy hitters.
Platinum, the one hour romp through modern country isn’t perfect, though it sure starts perfect with the country beauty “Girls” followed by the still has her wits about her title track, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you blonder” she cracks wise on the near perfect song. Even the third track changes pace again with the blues romp “Little Red Wagon” -all galloping drums and attitude. Songs featuring Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town are the weakest of the lot though the honky tonkin’ “All That’s Left” with the Time Jumper is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.
What drags me is the slower serious one, I get that the world needs adults, but “Holding On To You” is a lugubrious mess and makes you wonder how far this heart on sleeve stuff is gonna take you when you’re content and the closer “Another Sunday In The South” drags her to the finishing line. The album just loses steam and it is really a shame because it hits so hard at first.
Miranda has a long career ahead of her and this should hit pretty well for her (platinum Platinum -maybe not that well) but she didn’t have this much to prove even at 30.
Grade: B+
