Stronger is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released on March 8, 2011, via RCA Records Nashville.[1] Her first since 2005's Real Fine Place, the album came after a divorce from her now ex-husband Craig Schelske. Initially set to be released in 2009, the album was delayed due to the divorce. Evans was heavily involved in the writing for the album, co-writing seven of the eleven tracks. She co-produced the album with Nathan Chapman, Tony Brown, and Marti Frederiksen.
"Feels Just Like a Love Song" was originally the lead single from the album, released in August 2009. But after only spending a single week at number 59 on the Hot Country Songs chart, Evans's label, RCA Nashville Records, pulled it from radio and delayed the album; the song was later not included on the record. The album's official lead single, "A Little Bit Stronger", became one of Evans's biggest hits, becoming her first country number one hit since "A Real Fine Place to Start" (2005), spending two weeks atop the charts. The album also spawned two more minor hits: the top-thirty hit "My Heart Can't Tell You No" and "Anywhere".
Background
Stronger is Evans' first studio album to be released in nearly six years.[2] During this six-year period, Evans was involved in a high-profile divorce from her now ex-husband Craig Schelske.[3] In an interview with CMT, Evans explained why she took so long to record the record saying, "I cannot be creative unless my world is right. A lot of people will say, 'You know when I was going through my divorce or when I was going through rehab or when I was going through whatever ... .' You always hear artists talk about, 'Those are the best songs I've written.' Like, I'm the total opposite".[4]
In an interview with "The Boot", Evans spoke highly of the record saying, "I am so excited and thrilled to finally have NEW music coming out! It took me a long time to make this record for many reasons, both personally and professionally, and now it's all about to come to fruition. This new album is full of fresh new sounds from me, and many songs that I co-wrote, but it's also the signature Sara Evans sound that I hope will make the fans want to buy this record!"[2] Also included is a song titled "Alone", and Evans has stated that she wants it released as the third single from the album, saying "There's a song called 'Alone' that is going to be the third single. It's a very country ballad, but I'm telling you, that song ... I have such high hopes that this song can really change my career".[5]
"My Heart Can't Tell You No" was originally recorded by Rod Stewart on his 1988 album, Out of Order.
Reception
Commercial
The album debuted at number six on the U.S. Billboard 200, and at number one on the U.S. BillboardTop Country Albums chart selling 55,000 copies in its first week of release.[6] As of January 2014, the album has sold 405,000 copies in the US.[7]
Upon its release, Stronger received generally positive reviews from most music critics.[16] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 5 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[16]
Jon Caramanica with The New York Times referred to the album as "modest" and "sharp" calling Evans an "unjustly underappreciated country singer who’s becoming more assured as she gets older".[13] Thom Jurek with Allmusic gave the release a three star rating, noting the "traditional country" sound of the album; but also calling the release "formulaic" saying "Evans' fans will eat this up as welcome return to form. However, a more critical listen will reveal this set as a concession to Nashville's ever more restrictive, formulaic studio system".[8] Matt Bjorke with Roughstock gave it a three star rating, saying it "features a strong mix of contemporary country music; Stronger is an album that Sara Evans fans have been longing to have.[14] Deborah Evans Price with Billboard gave it a favorable review, stating "Stronger, Sara Evans' first studio album in six years, is proof that some things are worth waiting for."[10]
Jessica Phillips with Country Weekly gave it a 3½ star rating, calling the track "What That Drink Cost Me" "the album’s standout ballad" and compared Evans to Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless.[11] Bill Friskics-Warren with The Washington Post gave it a favorable review, also comparing her voice to that of Patty Loveless.[15] Michael McCall with the Associated Press gave the release a mixed review, saying "the anthemic songs fall flat: On the fist-pumping "A Little Bit Stronger" and the spiritually inclined "Desperately," Evans sounds oddly detached and the arrangements sound overly dramatic" but called the track "Alone" "the album's most powerful ballad".[9]
Singles
"A Little Bit Stronger" was released as the album's first single on September 27, 2010. It became Evans' fifth number one hit on the U.S. BillboardHot Country Songs chart[17] and her first since "A Real Fine Place to Start" in October 2005. The album's second single "My Heart Can't Tell You No", was released on June 20, 2011,[18] and peaked at number 21 in January 2012. "Anywhere," the third single, was released on July 23, 2012.[19]
