Keep on Loving You is a radio-friendly collection that showcases Reba McEntire's adaptability. The title track, a midtempo ballad saturated in compressed guitars, Hammond B-3, and a chorus of fiddles, reveals that McEntire is a belter who can hang with the best of them. The set opener (and its first single), "Strange," with its acoustic guitars, mandolin, and fiddle intros, is like something from the backyard until about 20 seconds in, when a wall of guitars a la John Rich arrives and Reba's vocal spits out lyrics about a wrecked love affair. "She's Turning 50 Today" is a bittersweet power ballad about a woman abandoned by her husband. It's the kind of ballad that the singer is famous for, and is delivered with characteristic aplomb. ~ Thom Jurek|
Rovi
一昨年の『Duets』に続けて全米チャートを制した、女帝リーバの新作。カントリーの勢いが際立つ現行のUSシーンにおいては当然の結果だけど、彼女の強さは歌を聴けばすぐわかる。前作で若い血を吸った成果か、ブルック&ダンのカヴァーに古典的な女心を注ぎ込んだ表題曲から、唾を吐くようなブギーまで、〈枯れ〉に逃げることなく多様な女性像を歌い分ける名優ぶりが良い。気合いの入った目頭も、とても御年54歳とは思えんわ。
bounce (C)出嶌孝次
タワーレコード(vol.314(2009年09月25日発行号)掲載)