Album Review: Mickie James - Somebody's Gonna Pay

Award-winning Professional Wrestler Mickie James released an album a few years ago but nothing about that album could prepare us for how strong Somebody's Gonna Pay, her eOne debut, is. Read on to see why we think it's a strong recording from a multi-talented artist.

The title track and lead single "Somebody's Gonna Pay" showcases a woman who is hell bent on getting revenge while "Best Damn Night" brings a little sassy attitude over a funky Country Blues melody. "Long Way Down" and "A Good Time" are both rockin' uptemo tunes, the first one is a song that is co-written by Craig Wiseman while the latter is a Bridgette Tatum co-write. Both songs showcase a strong artist who is more confident than ever as a vocalist. The majority of the record remains uptempo and upbeat, a style that certainly fits the professional wrestler. "Goin' Fast" (a song co-written by The Civil Wars' John Paul White) fits this mode as does "I Just Wanna Do My thing, one of the songs co-written by one of Mickie's two producers, Jamie Lee Thurston. 

While mostly uptempo, Mickie's best song on her Strangers & Angels album was the title track ballad so it's no surprise that she is able to deliver a few of those songs here. "If I Can't Be Me," written by frequent Gary Allan collaborator Odie Blackmon, is a smoldering torch song about staying true to yourself with a poignant refrain of  "If I Can't be me, how can I be with you."  "80 Proof" is a Miranda-like power ballad which is one of three tunes co-written by Mickie for Somebody's Gonna Pay. 

Another standout is the 'tude-filled "I'm Gone Song," a song which has a sound and melody that is grand and epic like quite a few 70s AM Radio ballads. Written by #1 hit Platinum songwriters Jim Collins, Tom Shapiro and Rivers Rutherford, the song is a just the kind of song that suits Mickie James. It's different, it shows off her rockin' side and helps create diversity for the record, an album that is quite likable and worthy of joining many a party playlist and soundtrack.

 

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