It's been six long years since Reba McEntire released a new solo studio album, but that doesn't mean that the country queen has lost a bit of her musical talent or ability to pick heartfelt songs. Mixing a modern beat, pop country and traditional sound, McEntire gives her long-deprived fans something crisp and fresh to devour with "Keep On Loving You."
The album starts out with the modern but definitely country-driven "Strange." The fiddles match McEntire's strong, "don't mess with me" voice as she sings about how she is, strangely, over a breakup in a day. Similar to the popular country "give it to the guy" theme, the song is something you might find on a Carrie Underwood album. Yet McEntire shows that she can reprimand a heartless man in a modern way all her own, with her unmistakable powerful southern twang.
Veering away from the first track, "Just When I Thought I'd Stopped Loving You" possesses a drive that is more modern pop or rock than pop country. The fast pop beat and singing during a few points in the song is far from a typical country cry. Despite the style not being of her genre, McEntire handles these parts with ease. Although the song contains a popish tone, she does incorporate some country into the piece in a way that may make you twitch a little at first. But once you hear the song a few times, you find the pace and instruments blending together, and it isn't so bad. Even so, the song still might spur some long-time fans and staunch country traditionalists to shy away from the tune because of the new feel.
Going back to more typical country, one song that overwhelmingly showcases McEntire's vocal range and ability to tell a heart-gripping story is "Maggie Creek Road," a song about women being taken advantage of. The desperate melody played by strongly blaring fiddles frames McEntire's voice, communicating well the danger and severity of those situations.
All in all, with her strong vocal range, ability to pick great songs and enthusiasm, McEntire still possesses the ability to tell a story while being creative. And I'd say she knows a thing or two about doing it. After all, she has been successfully making albums for more than 30 years.
Katelyn Latawiec
Keep On Loving You
It's been six long years since Reba McEntire released a new solo studio album, but that doesn't mean that the country queen has lost a bit of her musical talent or ability to pick heartfelt songs. Mixing a modern beat, pop country and traditional sound, McEntire gives her long-deprived fans something crisp and fresh to devour with "Keep On Loving You."
The album starts out with the modern but definitely country-driven "Strange." The fiddles match McEntire's strong, "don't mess with me" voice as she sings about how she is, strangely, over a breakup in a day. Similar to the popular country "give it to the guy" theme, the song is something you might find on a Carrie Underwood album. Yet McEntire shows that she can reprimand a heartless man in a modern way all her own, with her unmistakable powerful southern twang.
Veering away from the first track, "Just When I Thought I'd Stopped Loving You" possesses a drive that is more modern pop or rock than pop country. The fast pop beat and singing during a few points in the song is far from a typical country cry. Despite the style not being of her genre, McEntire handles these parts with ease. Although the song contains a popish tone, she does incorporate some country into the piece in a way that may make you twitch a little at first. But once you hear the song a few times, you find the pace and instruments blending together, and it isn't so bad. Even so, the song still might spur some long-time fans and staunch country traditionalists to shy away from the tune because of the new feel.
Going back to more typical country, one song that overwhelmingly showcases McEntire's vocal range and ability to tell a heart-gripping story is "Maggie Creek Road," a song about women being taken advantage of. The desperate melody played by strongly blaring fiddles frames McEntire's voice, communicating well the danger and severity of those situations.
All in all, with her strong vocal range, ability to pick great songs and enthusiasm, McEntire still possesses the ability to tell a story while being creative. And I'd say she knows a thing or two about doing it. After all, she has been successfully making albums for more than 30 years.
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