My Shockingly Bad Review of Martina McBride’s New Album “Eleven”
I have been a fan of Martina McBride for at least 10 years now and she is awesome and I love her. However . . . her latest album just came out last week and it is taking a long time to grow on me. I’m not sure it ever will . . . not sure it’s something I’ll crave listening to. That’s how I know when a CD is really good, when I can’t get the songs out of my head and I can’t wait to listen to it again.
Apparently, she has been writing songs and co-wrote most of the songs on the album. Well, I’m wondering if she should stop writing and concentrate on what she does best: sing. There are two main problems with the songs on here:
First, there is not enough new. A lot of the songs sound like other songs she has already done.
Second, the writing is often bland, not descriptive enough, and uninteresting. I really enjoy songs that have clever lyrics, descriptions that make you feel something. These lyrics don’t have enough to say.
Here is a brief review of the songs on the CD.
One Night – This could be a really awesome, fun song. The one thing I don’t like is that parts of it are too similar to “Ride” from her last CD. There’s a part where she sings the word “Sky” with exactly the same melodic descent as “Ride.” It’s a shame cause it ruins the song a bit for me.
Always Be This Way – This has a sort of reggae beat, which is a little odd. But the song is not bad, I guess, though a little saccharine.
I’m Gonna Love You Through It – This is a tear-jerker about a woman with cancer. It’s her “statement song” on the CD. And it too is not too bad.
Marry Me – This is a remake of Train’s song, which I adore. I don’t love her singing it. However, the end is cool when she duets with Pat Monahan, who I love, love, love. But more of the song should have been a duet.
Broken Umbrella – This song is full of horns and sounds very old-fashioned and boring. What is she doing with adult contemporary??? It’s so awful, saccharine, blech!
You Can Get Your Loving Right Here – This is supposed to be her “sexy” song but again the horns! Not a big fan of this song.
Whatcha Gonna Do – I don’t mind this song, the words are pretty good. It’s about a relationship that can never make up its mind. Are we on or off? Boy do I understand that. I love the “whatever” in this song.
Teenage Daughters – This was already a radio hit. It is a pretty good song, if you have teenage daughters.
Summer of Love – This is about a summer romance, and she wanted to evoke a “Strawberry Wine” feel here, but it doesn’t quite work. Again, there is not enough description here to evoke enough feeling or nostalgia, though I have to say I am liking it a bit more the more I listen to it.
When You Love a Sinner – This song title and melody have the potential to be interesting, but the song doesn’t say quite enough to make you feel. You don’t know why the person is a sinner, why they do what they do, why the singer sticks with them, etc. It’s a bit too vague to be effective. It has some clever lyrics in it, but I want to know more of the story. She’s been with her husband for like 20 years so obviously and hopefully it’s not about him.
Long Distance Lullaby – This is actually a beautiful song to her family when she’s on the road.
You’re in My House Now – Has the potential to be a sassy song, but there are like two measures in each verse where she goes "la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la la," like she just forgot the words or was too lazy to write them. WTF? Plus it doesn’t say enough about why it’s good to be in her house, so it leaves you unsatisfied.
Closing Time – It’s an interesting concept, likening closing time at a bar to the end of the relationship. But it’s way too slow a song to be interesting enough.
Ask the Boy – WTF? This song makes no sense. What is she asking him? This song makes absolutely no sense. The melody is kind of interesting, so if it made a bit more sense, it could have been better.
I Give It to You – The first word was Jesus. Enough said. Fast forward and the CD is finished. Bummer.
Apparently, she has been writing songs and co-wrote most of the songs on the album. Well, I’m wondering if she should stop writing and concentrate on what she does best: sing. There are two main problems with the songs on here:
First, there is not enough new. A lot of the songs sound like other songs she has already done.
Second, the writing is often bland, not descriptive enough, and uninteresting. I really enjoy songs that have clever lyrics, descriptions that make you feel something. These lyrics don’t have enough to say.
Here is a brief review of the songs on the CD.
One Night – This could be a really awesome, fun song. The one thing I don’t like is that parts of it are too similar to “Ride” from her last CD. There’s a part where she sings the word “Sky” with exactly the same melodic descent as “Ride.” It’s a shame cause it ruins the song a bit for me.
Always Be This Way – This has a sort of reggae beat, which is a little odd. But the song is not bad, I guess, though a little saccharine.
I’m Gonna Love You Through It – This is a tear-jerker about a woman with cancer. It’s her “statement song” on the CD. And it too is not too bad.
Marry Me – This is a remake of Train’s song, which I adore. I don’t love her singing it. However, the end is cool when she duets with Pat Monahan, who I love, love, love. But more of the song should have been a duet.
Broken Umbrella – This song is full of horns and sounds very old-fashioned and boring. What is she doing with adult contemporary??? It’s so awful, saccharine, blech!
You Can Get Your Loving Right Here – This is supposed to be her “sexy” song but again the horns! Not a big fan of this song.
Whatcha Gonna Do – I don’t mind this song, the words are pretty good. It’s about a relationship that can never make up its mind. Are we on or off? Boy do I understand that. I love the “whatever” in this song.
Teenage Daughters – This was already a radio hit. It is a pretty good song, if you have teenage daughters.
Summer of Love – This is about a summer romance, and she wanted to evoke a “Strawberry Wine” feel here, but it doesn’t quite work. Again, there is not enough description here to evoke enough feeling or nostalgia, though I have to say I am liking it a bit more the more I listen to it.
When You Love a Sinner – This song title and melody have the potential to be interesting, but the song doesn’t say quite enough to make you feel. You don’t know why the person is a sinner, why they do what they do, why the singer sticks with them, etc. It’s a bit too vague to be effective. It has some clever lyrics in it, but I want to know more of the story. She’s been with her husband for like 20 years so obviously and hopefully it’s not about him.
Long Distance Lullaby – This is actually a beautiful song to her family when she’s on the road.
You’re in My House Now – Has the potential to be a sassy song, but there are like two measures in each verse where she goes "la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la la," like she just forgot the words or was too lazy to write them. WTF? Plus it doesn’t say enough about why it’s good to be in her house, so it leaves you unsatisfied.
Closing Time – It’s an interesting concept, likening closing time at a bar to the end of the relationship. But it’s way too slow a song to be interesting enough.
Ask the Boy – WTF? This song makes no sense. What is she asking him? This song makes absolutely no sense. The melody is kind of interesting, so if it made a bit more sense, it could have been better.
I Give It to You – The first word was Jesus. Enough said. Fast forward and the CD is finished. Bummer.
posted by CC @ 9:53 PM
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