Red-haired and hot

Fiery Jo Dee Messina ignites with 'Burn'

"Burn"
Curb Records
(Release date: August 1)

By Mary Jo DiLonardo
Special to CNN Interactive

(CNN) -- Jo Dee Messina has guts. Way back when the Massachusetts-born, copper-tressed singer tried to break into Nashville, she marched up to a bigwig at Curb Records. "I was thinking y'all need a redhead on your label," she said, and promptly volunteered herself for the position.

After a listen, the execs at Curb agreed: They needed that redhead on their label.

Messina was inked to a contract that spawned her breakthrough hit, "Heads Carolina, Tails California." It was utterly different from everything else playing on the radio at the time, and the song led the singer to some fun No. 1 hits -- "Bye, Bye" and "I'm Alright." They showed she had a knack for picking good tunes, songs with infectious melodies that showcase Messina's fresh vocals.

AUDIO "That's The Way" 272K MP3 or 384K WAV sound "Burn" 272K MP3 or 416K WAV sound "Bring On The Rain" 368K MP3 or 512K WAV sound

Now, her third effort, "Burn," largely forgoes soft crooners and power ballads and instead takes advantage of Messina's strength -- her ability to belt out fun, rock-driven sing-along songs. It's her best disc yet, packed with music that makes you want to crank up the stereo, roll down the windows and drive somewhere fast.

The disc kicks off with the toe-tapping opening tune, "Downtime," and doesn't let up from there. The next cut is "Burn"'s first single, "That's the Way," a catchy song that dares you not to sing along from the second you hear the refrain.

Messina does little to slow the momentum. Standouts include the album's title cut, a powerful, haunting love song, and the final, "Bring on the Rain," a pretty song featuring harmonies from Messina's producer and country's reigning king, Tim McGraw.

This plucky redhead deserves her Country Music Association accolade as last year's Horizon Award winner. No longer a star of the future, Messina is up for top female vocalist honors this year. Though the competition is tough -- Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and Lee Ann Womack are contenders, too -- Messina will be in there holding her own.

Messina was raised near Boston, so it's hardly a shock that she's twang-free. There is also a definite pop flavor to her songs. Surprisingly, she's had little of the crossover success recently experienced by fellow country singers Faith Hill and Shania Twain.

It's a shame, for Messina's unmistakable voice is refreshing in a Babel of sound-alikes. Her upbeat, contagious tunes leap out of the radio, offering a unique, original take on the tried-and-true themes of loving and losing and picking yourself back up when it's all over.

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Jo Dee Messina Curb Records

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