Martina McBride - "Reckless"

[codyj100]

Artist: Martina McBride
Album: Reckless
Release: April 29, 2016 via Nash Icon Records (BMLG)
Produced by: Dann Huff and Nathan Chapman 



Stream | Download

Tracklist:

1. Reckless
2. It Ain't Pretty
3. Just Around The Corner
4. Everybody Wants To Be Loved
5. The Real Thing (with Buddy Miller)
6. That's The Thing About Love
7. Low All Afternoon
8. Diamond (with Keith Urban)
9. We'll Pick Up Where We Left Off
10. You And You Alone

---

I have listened to this album all day. No joke. I have been a fan of Martina's for a long time (I wouldn't say I am her biggest fan by any means, but I do own a handful of her albums). It's funny because I was not all that impressed with Eleven or Everlasting so I thought my days of appreciating new Martina music were long gone. Sorry, bboat11 , but it did cross my mind at one time. 

With that being said, when "Reckless" came out I was in love all over again. This time around it's been different. The album feels deeper and much more connected than anything she's put out since 2003's Martina, IMO. Unlike all the other Martina albums I own, I don't find myself skipping a single song. Sure, there are a select few that stand out more than the others, but it all makes for an incredible album. And, I have to mention there only being 10 songs. At first I was disappointed when I first heard there were only going to be 10 total songs and the HSN deluxe was a mere additional selection off of Eleven. Now, after listening to the album a few times through, I understand it was completely intentional and for good reason. This album is most definitely quality over quantity. There are 10 different stories of love, loss, and hope. Ahhh! I cannot speak highly enough. This may take the top spot on my end of the year, "Top 10 Albums" list - I can't imagine another (Shania, if she actually releases one) topping Reckless.


Rankings:

1. Everybody Wants To Be Loved
2. That's The Thing About Love
3. Diamond (with Keith Urban)
4. Reckless
5. Just Around The Corner
6. The Real Thing (with Buddy Miller)
7. We'll Pick Up Where We Left Off
8. It Ain't Pretty
9. You And You Alone
10. Low All Afternoon 

[George Strait Junkie]

ok first off i have never been a big fan of hers but i do enjoy this album it might be her best yet here's my ranking of the songs

1. Low All Afternoon (Loved Hailey's version was worried bout Martina's but she nailed it)
2. The Real Thing (with Buddy Miller) - another song of Hailey Whitters i hope she cuts this one herself someday
3. That's The Thing About Love - this one has that classic Martina 90's feel to it
4. Everybody Wants To Be Loved
5. Just Around The Corner
6. It Ain't Pretty - Better than the LA version
7. Diamond (With Keith Urban)
8. You And You Alone
9. We'll Pick Up Where We Left Off
10. Reckless

[someguy]

I like this album a lot. I've been on the road a fair bit this weekend, so I was able to listen to it quite a few times (I had it on repeat in my truck for awhile...it helps that the album is quite short, so I got a few listens in).

At first, I have to admit that I was slightly underwhelmed. But, the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. I think it's probably up there with her big albums in terms of consistency. I think that some of her more recent albums have had higher highs (I still love "Teenage Daughters" and "You're In My House Now" from Eleven), but this album is far more consistent overall. Every track is there for a reason. "We'll Pick Up Where We Left Off" especially has really clicked with me. The first couple of times I listened to the album, I guess I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics, and assumed it was a wife asking her husband not to divorce her, just take a little break to cool off. When I listened to it more closely the next time, I realized what it was really about, and it clicked with me. It's easily my favourite song on the album at the moment.

Also, her version of "It Ain't Pretty" is beautiful. I always liked it as a Lady Antebellum album track, but her vocal performance elevates it to a whole new level, imo.

Track rankings:

1. We'll Pick Up Where We Left Off
2. Reckless
3. It Ain't Pretty
4. That's The Things About Love
5. Just Around The Corner
6. You And You Alone
7. The Real Thing
8. Diamond
9. Everybody Wants To Be Loved
10. Low All Afternoon

Single picks (not that it really matters, but still):

1. Reckless
2. Just Around The Corner
3. That's The Thing About Love
4. We'll Pick Up Where We Left Off

(If there were to be a fifth single, I'd stick "It Ain't Pretty" in between #3 and #4)

Album rankings:

1. Evolution (I highly doubt anything will ever beat this...one of my favourite albums of all time)
2. Martina
3. Wild Angels
4. Reckless
5. Eleven
6. Everlasting
7. Waking Up Laughing
8. Emotion
9. The Way That I Am
10. Shine

[codyj100]

Out of curiosity, did anyone notice the crack in her voice during "Everybody Wants To Be Loved?" It's around the 2:30ish mark. I figured it must've been intentional to keep it on the final cut and not have her redo the vocal track. I personally enjoy the fact that they didn't try and redo it, to make it sound perfect. It shows the "realness" of the album. I'm just curious if it stood out to anyone else. 

[bboat11]

May 1, 2016 13:46:24 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

Out of curiosity, did anyone notice the crack in her voice during "Everybody Wants To Be Loved?" It's around the 2:30ish mark. I figured it must've been intentional to keep it on the final cut and not have her redo the vocal track. I personally enjoy the fact that they didn't try and redo it, to make it sound perfect. It shows the "realness" of the album. I'm just curious if it stood out to anyone else. 

I am assuming you are talking about at 2:45 when she first sings "everybody" after the song suddenly gets high? I totally noticed that, and I completely agree with you!!! It makes the song so much more raw and real. I noticed the exact same thing in the high parts of her recording of "Over The Rainbow" that she released last April. Lately she seems to be going for a raw, unpolished sound, and I REALLY like it. I agree that it must have been intentional, to add to the organic sound that she was going for with this album.

I thought I was the only one who would notice something as subtle as that! Lol! Because as far as vocal effects go, that one is a pretty subtle one that you would only notice in a close listening!

[codyj100]

May 1, 2016 16:45:17 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

May 1, 2016 13:46:24 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

Out of curiosity, did anyone notice the crack in her voice during "Everybody Wants To Be Loved?" It's around the 2:30ish mark. I figured it must've been intentional to keep it on the final cut and not have her redo the vocal track. I personally enjoy the fact that they didn't try and redo it, to make it sound perfect. It shows the "realness" of the album. I'm just curious if it stood out to anyone else. 

I am assuming you are talking about at 2:45 when she first sings "everybody" after the song suddenly gets high? I totally noticed that, and I completely agree with you!!! It makes the song so much more raw and real. I noticed the exact same thing in the high parts of her recording of "Over The Rainbow" that she released last April. Lately she seems to be going for a raw, unpolished sound, and I REALLY like it. I agree that it must have been intentional, to add to the organic sound that she was going for with this album.

I thought I was the only one who would notice something as subtle as that! Lol! Because as far as vocal effects go, that one is a pretty subtle one that you would only notice in a close listening!

YES! That's the one I was referring to. I listened to it for about the tenth time after posting this and realized it was 2:45. Organic is the best way to put it. It's a shame something with so much truth will no longer climb the charts. I am only hoping that the industry turns their heads to this album and sees what they saw in Chris Stapleton. I get they are two TOTALLY different artists but it's about time an iconic female artist who champions on making core sounding music gets more recognition...and past the peak of their career. I do think Martina is far from done musically, and I am happy about that. But, I don't think radio will really bat an eye at her. It's a sad day. She has so much power. 

[Deleted]

I guess like I'll be the person that wasn't that impressed. I thought Martina McBride sounded fine on this album, however I found the production to be so lifeless and bland (much like Chris Young's latest album) that I honestly thought of this album overall as bland and uninteresting. 

[dub]

Yeah I wasn't all that impressed with it either. I agree she sounded fine enough, but there weren't any "Martina moments" on the album. I like Reckless and The Real Thing (although I was hoping for the Audra Mae song).

[codyj100]

Regardless of radio airplay, here are my single choices:

1. Reckless
2. Diamond (with Keith Urban) 
3. Just Around The Corner
4. That's The Thing About Love

And, the more I listen to the album...the more I have grown to love "Low All Afternoon." It was so hard to rank the songs on this album, but I would definitely change my entire rankings list now. Each day I listen to the album, the more my list changes. But, "Low All Afternoon" and "It Ain't Pretty" are growing on me. 

[someguy]

Yeah, the rankings are so hard with this album. Even though I placed it last (and it may not stay there), "Low All Afternoon" is still such an interesting song.

[someguy]

Opening numbers are around 14,100 according to HITS. Unfortunately, that's a steep decline from "Everlasting" a couple of years ago. :(

It should be either #2 or #3. Chris Stapleton will definitely be #1, but Joey & Rory are around 14,600 in HITS's estimate, which could be passed when Billboard publishes their chart on Monday.

[codyj100]

May 7, 2016 14:05:51 GMT -5 someguy said:

Opening numbers are around 14,100 according to HITS. Unfortunately, that's a steep decline from "Everlasting" a couple of years ago. :(

It should be either #2 or #3. Chris Stapleton will definitely be #1, but Joey & Rory are around 14,600 in HITS's estimate, which could be passed when Billboard publishes their chart on Monday.

This album was not promoted like it could have been. If she was still with Republic Nashville, they might have been able to get a bit more of promo out for this album. Nash Icon - as it has been said before...can only do so much. With Eleven they had the "Elevn Across America" mini tour against breast cancer. Eleven also had a proper deluxe edition, released through Target and it was promoted via TV and hit stores right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

Not to mention, the industry has changed drastically even in the past five years. Plus the fact that Martina went will a less radio-friendly approach on this album. "Reckless" is really the only radio ready song, for today's climate. But, being at Nash Icon and their affiliation with Cumulus - it is not going to much. 

[Deleted]

May 8, 2016 12:57:03 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

May 7, 2016 14:05:51 GMT -5 someguy said:

Opening numbers are around 14,100 according to HITS. Unfortunately, that's a steep decline from "Everlasting" a couple of years ago. :(

It should be either #2 or #3. Chris Stapleton will definitely be #1, but Joey & Rory are around 14,600 in HITS's estimate, which could be passed when Billboard publishes their chart on Monday.

This album was not promoted like it could have been. If she was still with Republic Nashville, they might have been able to get a bit more of promo out for this album. Nash Icon - as it has been said before...can only do so much. With Eleven they had the "Elevn Across America" mini tour against breast cancer. Eleven also had a proper deluxe edition, released through Target and it was promoted via TV and hit stores right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

Not to mention, the industry has changed drastically even in the past five years. Plus the fact that Martina went will a less radio-friendly approach on this album. "Reckless" is really the only radio ready song, for today's climate. But, being at Nash Icon and their affiliation with Cumulus - it is not going to much. 

I actually think they could've done more like had Martina McBride perform "Reckless" at like one of the two award shows the past couple of months. If you also add in the fact "Reckless" is on 19 stations on the MB Panel not many people probably even knew that Martina had new music just saying. Martina is a recognizable name but this album felt like a total non event. 

[someguy]

May 8, 2016 12:57:03 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

May 7, 2016 14:05:51 GMT -5 someguy said:

Opening numbers are around 14,100 according to HITS. Unfortunately, that's a steep decline from "Everlasting" a couple of years ago. :(

It should be either #2 or #3. Chris Stapleton will definitely be #1, but Joey & Rory are around 14,600 in HITS's estimate, which could be passed when Billboard publishes their chart on Monday.

This album was not promoted like it could have been. If she was still with Republic Nashville, they might have been able to get a bit more of promo out for this album. Nash Icon - as it has been said before...can only do so much. With Eleven they had the "Elevn Across America" mini tour against breast cancer. Eleven also had a proper deluxe edition, released through Target and it was promoted via TV and hit stores right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

Not to mention, the industry has changed drastically even in the past five years. Plus the fact that Martina went will a less radio-friendly approach on this album. "Reckless" is really the only radio ready song, for today's climate. But, being at Nash Icon and their affiliation with Cumulus - it is not going to much. 

Oh yeah, I totally agree with all of this. Comparing it to Everlasting though, which came out about 2 years ago, I'm surprised at how steep the drop is. The industry is comparable to today, "Reckless" has received more airplay than anything from that album, and I think the album has had more promo (that's debatable though). This isn't meant as a knock on Martina at all, just some surprise (and a little disappointment) with the opening week sales numbers.

[babybuffalo]

The only tracks I enjoyed were...

Diamond - she and Keith sound so good but to me the song is typical Martina
Low All Afternoon - Not for radio but a lovely song. I'll be calling it Weeping Willow though. I think the title is awful.

I really believe what Martina needs to do to reinvigorate her career is take a look at what Lee Ann Womack is doing. Her last record was like an emotional punch in the gut. It's almost as if Martina's music is too nice. Vocally she can handle so much more. I'm thinking back to the first song of hers that got my attention, Where I Used To Have A Heart. It's that feeling I want from her music again.

[codyj100]

May 8, 2016 15:46:00 GMT -5 someguy said:

May 8, 2016 12:57:03 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

This album was not promoted like it could have been. If she was still with Republic Nashville, they might have been able to get a bit more of promo out for this album. Nash Icon - as it has been said before...can only do so much. With Eleven they had the "Elevn Across America" mini tour against breast cancer. Eleven also had a proper deluxe edition, released through Target and it was promoted via TV and hit stores right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

Not to mention, the industry has changed drastically even in the past five years. Plus the fact that Martina went will a less radio-friendly approach on this album. "Reckless" is really the only radio ready song, for today's climate. But, being at Nash Icon and their affiliation with Cumulus - it is not going to much. 

Oh yeah, I totally agree with all of this. Comparing it to Everlasting though, which came out about 2 years ago, I'm surprised at how steep the drop is. The industry is comparable to today, "Reckless" has received more airplay than anything from that album, and I think the album has had more promo (that's debatable though). This isn't meant as a knock on Martina at all, just some surprise (and a little disappointment) with the opening week sales numbers.

You wrote "Everlasting" and I was thinking, "Eleven." Whoops - sorry about that. But I agree with both of you.

[someguy]

She was able to pull past Joey & Rory for a #2 debut. :)

[.indulgecountry]

Got this for my mom for Mother's Day and now that I've listened to it, I must say that I enjoy this album quite a bit. At only 10 tracks, the album seems rather short, especially considering I'm not too crazy about the final two tracks on the record (particularly "You and You Alone"), but the other 8 are wonderful, especially the stretch from #5-7 (The Real Thing, That's the Thing About Love, and Low All Afternoon). Definitely prefer her rendition of "It Ain't Pretty" to the Lady Antebellum version from Golden as well because Martina can clearly sing Hillary under the table any day, though I liked the original at the time. Tracks 5-7 are definitely my favorites though. I love the premise of "The Real Thing" (very creative lyrics -- especially the use of cyber cloud/digital stream), the vocal blending between her and Buddy Miller, and the steel guitar. "That's the Thing About Love" has great production and melody, and "Low All Afternoon" is a great vocal and song. Solid album overall, and I definitely like the general more "organic" feel of it that she promised.

[onebuffalo]

May 9, 2016 22:01:16 GMT -5 someguy said:

She was able to pull past Joey & Rory for a #2 debut. :)

You're right. #2 country, #31 top 200 album with 16,000 sold. Congratulations, Martina McBride!