by Stephen Thomas ErlewineRecorded in 1979 and 1980 but left unreleased until 1996, this eponymous album is an attempt by Karen Carpenter to expand her sound by delving into disco and synth-tinged soft-rock. Produced by Phil Ramone and featuring musical support from several members of Billy Joel's band, the album sounds professional, which should be expected. However, it doesn't sound natural. Not only are the songs under-developed and lack strong melodic hooks, but Carpenter sounds forced in this setting, as if she doesn't fully believe in the material. There's a reason why the album wasn't released at the time.