Jo Dee Messina – I’m Alright

Review

There’s a grin behind every line Jo Dee Messina sings on I’m Alright, and it’s the kind you can hear even before she belts the chorus. The album is pure late-’90s country confidence—twangy guitars, sharp storytelling, and that unshakable blend of heartache and grit. Following her self-titled debut, Messina hit her stride here, delivering a record that captured both the sass and sincerity that would come to define her career.

“I’m Alright” and “Bye-Bye” were anthems for independence before that became a buzzword, their hooks built for the radio but grounded in hard-won emotion. Even on slower tracks like “Because You Love Me,” she brings a warmth that feels lived-in, honest. The production—courtesy of Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw—leans shiny and polished, but never plastic. It’s the kind of Nashville sound that still lets the storytelling breathe.

What makes I’m Alright special isn’t just its catchiness—it’s how Messina balances joy and resilience, turning heartbreak into horsepower. It’s country music that smiles through the bruises and keeps on dancing. - Joey