SINGLES
Carrie Underwood
"Inside Your Heaven/Independence Day." RCA. 2 tracks.
Grade: D+

The songs composed for the "American Idol" finalists have never been the stuff of musical immortality. The formula calls for a string of cringe-worthy clichés draped around a big, hooky chorus.

(ENLARGE)
'Inside Your Heaven / Independence Day' Carrie Underwood
(ENLARGE)
'Inside Your Heaven / Vehicle' Bo Bice
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This time around, someone misplaced the hooks. Even the most seasoned and distinctive performer couldn't make "Inside Your Heaven" sound fresh and exciting.

"Idol's" fourth champion, Underwood, certainly can't. She's a technically efficient singer with a hint of twang, much like a less showy version of Martina McBride, the nominally country artist who originally recorded the other track on Underwood's debut single. "Independence Day" is a superior song — faint praise in this case — but it gives Underwood a chance to show a little personality. Give her some real tunes of her own, and we'll see what she can do.

Longhaired Alabama rocker Bice looked out of place on "Idol" and sounds completely out of his element singing maudlin cheese like "Inside Your Heaven." It evokes painful memories of Michael Bolton. The other tune, an Ides of March hit from 1970, is gouda to "Inside Your Heaven's" Velveeta. It's still cheese, but it's brassier and smokier, which suits Bice's deep rock rumble.

This isn't music. It's marketing. These tracks don't tell you anything you didn't already know about these performers. They're just shiny silver souvenirs for the faithful "Idol" fans.

— Shane Harrison