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Kellie Pickler blossomed into a favorite on "American Idol" due to her unguarded personality and her unapologetic acceptance of her humble Southern roots. Like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, she didn't try to hide or excuse her rural background. Instead, she drew on it to disarm the cynical and the calculated.

However, she didn't get further in the competition because she didn't understand her weaknesses. Her RCA debut, "Small Town Girl," continues these patterns: She's at her best when embracing who she is, at her worst when she tries to sing something beyond her range and experience.

The Albemarle, N.C., blonde sparkles on upbeat, attitude-driven songs like "I'm On My Way" and her first single, "Red High Heels." Her engaging character lifts these contemporary tunes with a youthful vigor that separates her from most of what's on country radio these days.

But when the 20-year-old takes on a ballad like "Didn't Know How Much I Loved You," or a serious but clich‚d message song about spousal abuse, "Wild Ponies," she reaches beyond what she's capable of expressing.

As before, Pickler's still experimenting. If this small-town girl wants to conquer the world, she'll need to figure out where her strengths reside.