Eleven

Martina McBride | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Republic Nashville
• ASIN: B005HWUBFK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,164 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

After two decades in the music business, Martina McBride is starting over. Now signed to Republic Nashville, with new management (Clint Higham of Morris Artists Management), a new co-producer (Byron Gallimore), newly-spotlighted songwriting skills (she penned over half the songs on Eleven, her new CD), and a brand new spirit of accomplishment, Martina is swinging into high gear. And she couldn't be more thrilled. "It really feels like starting over for me -- but with a track record and with the success and experience I've had over the years," she explains. "I feel more mature and more confident, which comes with knowing yourself better. And there are a lot of opportunities now that I haven't had in a long time."

When her longtime contract with RCA Records expired in 2010, Martina revved up for new challenges ahead. "There comes a time when you have to step back and say, I need something different," she says. "It was a risk, but you have to do what feels right." After weighing her options, Martina decided to join two year-old Republic Nashville, part of the Big Machine Records family of labels. "We had a couple of offers that were really great," she notes, "but what really drew me in the end was Scott Borchetta and his reputation. When I met with him and his staff, their enthusiasm and passion for music were so evident -- not only for the business but for the music. I really got the feeling that they get up every day and say, `Wow! We get to be in the music business!" They have an innovative approach and such positive energy. It's contagious and something I wanted to be a part of."

It was Big Machine's CEO Borchetta who planted the seeds for another Martina first: recording outside Nashville. "When I'm at home, I wear a lot of hats," she says. "I get to be a musician part time, but I'm a mom first, and I only get to focus on music a few hours every day. I thought Scott showed a lot of insight when he suggested I go somewhere else to record the new CD. It was a respectful way to say, `You need to focus on the music if this album is really important to you."

With co-producer Byron Gallimore and a seasoned group of Nashville musicians in tow, Martina headed down to Atlanta's Southern Tracks studio in January of 2011 to begin work on Eleven. The start of the sessions coincided with an ice storm that shut the city down. "There was nothing to do there but make music," she laughs. "We couldn't go shopping, we couldn't go out to eat. Every day we'd slide across the parking lot from the hotel and work in the studio making music all day." The singer made sure to break the studio time up with trips back to Nashville to see her daughters, but being away from home for several days at a clip let her totally focus on the recording.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Eleven is the fact that Martin herself co-wrote six of the 11 tracks on the album, something she's especially proud of..

"I love songwriters, and I'm not an artist who thinks I have to write everything I record. But people were encouraging me to write and songwriters seemed to want to write with me, so I just decided to really focus and see what came of it. And because of that, this record shows a lot of different sides of my personality. I think it peels back a layer and let's people see more of my personality, especially the playful and fun side."

As for the superstar herself, she's frankly exhilarated by the chance to experience what she calls first-time opportunities the second time around. In a career that's already taken her to breathtaking heights (four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year trophies, three ACM Female Vocalist awards, a GRAMMY win, numerous national magazine covers and features, and appearances on such shows as VH1's "Divas," "TODAY Show," "20/20," "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars"), Martina is ready to take it up a notch with the help of her new label.

Product Description

2011 album from the Country vocalist, her 11th album overall. The breadth of Martina's talents as recording artist, producer, songwriter, and concert entertainer has made her an in-demand performer and personality. Eleven features some of Martina's most personal songs to date, with the powerhouse vocalist penning six of the 11 tracks. While dabbling with songwriting in the past, Martina's newfound passion is evident in these songs, giving fans a deeper look into her reality.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Safety Not in Numbers But in Her Songs October 11, 2011

By Timothy Yap TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Prime Cuts: Marry Me, Summer of Love, Long Distance Lullaby

"11" is more than just the title of McBride's latest CD. Rather, this is also her 11th record with 11 newly recorded tracks in her illustrious career and it's released on October 11th. As if all of this is not enough, McBride will be hopping on the Amtrak to promote this record making 11 stops. However, it is not mathematical gimmick that will propel this disc to a brand new career high for this country diva, it's the songs. The majority of these 11 tracks are stellar -- packed with well-constructed melodies, thoughtful lyrics and catapulted by McBride's soaring high octane soprano. After 10 studio records with RCA Nashville Records, "11" marks a new beginning for McBride. On this her debut record for Republic Nashville Records, she has enlisted Bryon Gallimore (Faith Hill and Tim McGraw) as producer. Thankfully, Gallimore has not chosen the commercial exploitative route of imbuing this record with a ear popping stadium rock. Rather, this record has an organic feel with almost a rootsy feel on a few tracks yet it not so removed from commercial country radio. There are still some routine singles tailored for radio. Moreover, on this record McBride for the first time has co-written 7 out of the 11 cuts here.

Surprisingly, the best track on this disc has its sui genesis as a rock number. Imitating her peer Reba McEntire who had recently turned Beyonce's "If I Was a Boy" into a top 20 country hit, McBride has gone after Train's "Marry Me." "Marry Me" with its kitsch lyrics about the protagonist being smitten by love yet having no courage to tell the boy she loves begs for a country makeover. This is the type of music country music fans are craving for and with McBride and Train's Pat Monahan's sympathetic deliveries this is destined to be a hit. More romantic moments come with retro-sounding rock ballad "Broken Umbrella." This Mark Irwin, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins composition finds a love drenched McBride basking in love's euphoria so much that no broken umbrella could deter her from her stormy trials. McBride has never sounded happier with the Jewel-like "Always Be This Way" where she is sonically carried by a reggae backbeat led by the song's irresistible hook. While summer love has been subject of many a country song (a la Alan Jackson's "Summertime Blues" and Walker Hayes' "Why Wait for Summer"), McBride's "Summer of Love" is taken at a slower and nostalgic pace made even more romantic by the soothing acoustic guitar riffs.

Almost indispensable to any McBride records, she has had her share of inspirational numbers. Just like her previous hits "Concrete Angel," "Anyway," "God's Will," McBride has again tried to delicately speak to life's situations via her songs. This time via "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" she deals with a woman in her late 30s coming to grips with having cancer. Though one cannot fault McBride on the sincerity of the song but it is somehow let down by the song's pretty pedantic big balladry predictable melody. "When You Love a Sinner" also touches on the darker side of a relationship as a woman deals with her relationship's deficiencies. Again McBride is let down by the song's pretty unimaginative melodic development. Nevertheless, McBride has to be congratulated for making her music relevant with "Teenage Daughters." A song that trumps with its realistic lyrics that most parents can relate to set on a contemporary radio tailored pop production. The same can be said of "You Can Get Your Loving Right Here"--an amalgam of 60s rock over a strutting, funky and sultry tune.

The album closes on a glowing note with the string-laden ballad "Long Distance Lullaby." Though the loneliness of being far from home is not novel to country music, the way McBride pours her heart out with sincere measures of sensitivity and pain is worth the album's price here. This is what McBride excels in. On the whole this album's weakest moments are those when McBride makes concession to radio. But on tracks where she just lets her hair down and sings to her heart's content, she is simply stunning. More than numbers, this is a record with material strong enough to lead McBride into a new chapter of her career with aplomb.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Martina is back! October 13, 2011

By M. Galloway

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

There was a slight hesitation in buying this album for me. I don't particularly like a lot of current country music especially what is being played on country radio. But from the moment i heard One night my hesitation was discarded. Every song on this album leaves you feeling something. From One night with a remembrance of what it is to live on love. To Marry Me (a duet with train better than the original) that leaves you with the perfect wedding song. Teenage daughters dealing with the comical side of raising teenagers. To I'm going to love you through it a emotional depiction of the struggle for women with breast cancer and their husbands support. If you buy no other cad this month buy this one. You will not be disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Record October 11, 2011

By Nathan

Format:Audio CD

I absolutely love this record. It is different and refreshing. I especially loved the song Broken Umbrella. I just found myself singing along with it and cutting it up lounder and louder. I love the fun feel it has and the good feeling it leaves you with. I also loved the two last tracks When You Love a Sinner and Long Distance Lullaby. Those two songs are beautifully written songs and she sings them with such passion.