This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“Life doesn’t wait for us to get it right,” notes Carolyn Dawn Johnson on her second CD Dress Rehearsal.
That’s ironic, considering the Alberta-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter waited three years to follow up her 2001 debut Room With A View. On the plus side, there’s no denying she got it right on this strong sophomore set. Johnson is an exceptional talent; she pens songs that are instantly familiar, plays several instruments, possesses a gorgeous voice, is a competent producer and isn’t hard on the eyes to boot. Here, she plays to all her strengths with impressive results — from twangy country-pop gems like Squeezin’ The Love Outta You, Simple Life and Head Over High Heels to pretty ballads like Life As We Know It and Out Of A Broken Heart, nearly every cut has the potential to be a hit. A little more artistic individuality and musical personality wouldn’t hurt her — at times, she can be a bit too commercial — but with Dress Rehearsal, Johnson certainly seems ready for her closeup.
