Reckless!

 

  Is #13 always unlucky? Ask Martina McBride! Her new 13th studio album “Reckless” debuted #2 on the country charts, so apparently not. Upon first listen to this album I thought it was mediocre; however, when I heard it a 2nd time I decided I loved it! How can you not love anything Martina sings? Her voice can be soft and beautiful as well as loud and just as beautiful! She has been nominated 17 times for CMA's female vocalist of the year and won 4 times! Her almost 25-year career speaks for itself! The songs on this album feel like old friends. Martina described in a recent interview that she thinks her fans will find this album familiar. She also stated that it feels like an album she would've made 10-15 years ago. If this was her goal, she nailed it! 

  Her title track “Reckless” is dedicated to her husband. She said she was young and making questionable decisions and he saw through all that and loved her anyway. You may have seen her video for the song. It's quite striking when she cuts her own hair with a pair of random rusty scissors! Listen for this song on the radio and look out for the video! “You and You Alone” is my least-favorite song on the album! I think the lyrics are beautiful; but it's slow and a bit boring. Both of these songs feel a little familiar.

   Martina didn't have many duets on earlier albums; but in the last 10 years or so, she has started to do that more. This album has two duets. “Diamonds” with Keith Urban. She dedicates this song to her daughters. It's a fun upbeat song and I'd love for it to be a single. The second duet, "The Real Thing” with Buddy Miller. It feels like a southern rock song! I think many people would enjoy both these duets, even people who don't consider themselves Martina fans! These songs don't feel familiar; only because duets are a somewhat new thing for Martina. 

   The other six songs on the albums all feel very familiar and seem like something Martina recorded years ago! It Ain't Pretty” is a song about heartbreak but it's not sappy. “Just Around The Corner” seems like a signature Martina song. It's a happy, relaxed song! “Low All Afternoon” is another signature song that deals with domestic issues. “Where We Left Off” is a sweet song that again feels familiar and has nice lyrics. The last two songs “That's The Thing About Love” which is an upbeat fun song which would probably do well on radio. The last song is “Everybody Wants to be Loved” it's a classic Martina power-ballad! It's beautiful! I also think this song would tear up the charts! These last two songs are written by at least part of the team that wrote the song “Blessed” as well as other songs for other country royalty! I was excited when I saw their names attached to these songs! 

    Well that's it! After 5 years of waiting for new Martina material, it's here! (I'm not including her last album full of covers.) It was worth the wait! Be “Reckless” and take a chance on this album!  My rating 9.5/10! With that I say #13 isn't always unlucky!  (Feel free to comment below!)