Customer Reviews

Keep On Loving You (Deluxe Edition with Bonus DVD)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Whatever might have been in Reba McEntire's drinking water during the production of her 31st album, KEEP ON LOVING YOU, I'll have what she's having. On the disc, McEntire exudes strength, sass, a little sap, and her signature southern charm.

Breakout first single "Strange" leads off and finds Reba foregoing heartache in favor of self preservation and a bit of wink-wink revenge upon realizing post-breakup that "the sun's still shining." The sass continues on "I Want A Cowboy," "Pink Guitar" and "I'll Have What She's Having," with the singer declaring her romantic pursuits on "Cowboy" and "Having" and narrating a young girl's stardom aspirations on "Guitar."

Never one to be a doormat, McEntire presents strong female protagonists in current single "Consider Me Gone" and the haunting "Maggie Creek Road." In the lyrically-rich former, McEntire lays it on the line when faced with an uncommunicative, withdrawn partner, singing, "If you think you can do better than this...Then I guess we're done...Consider me gone." A mother's innate need to protect her child boils to vigilantism in "Maggie Creek Road."

Fans of McEntire's country ballads get their fill with "But Why," "Over You" and "I Keep On Lovin' You." The title track, co-written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride, is classic love conquering all through ups and downs.

Perhaps my favorite track on the album, "She's Turning 50 Today," tells of a woman reclaiming her freedom and future in a midlife shakeup. McEntire shares writing credits with Liz Hengber and Tommy Lee James, both of whom have penned prior No. 1 singles for Reba.

As a whole, KEEP ON LOVING YOU shines with radio-friendly selections and solid album cuts - each of which reinforces Reba's rightful place in the country music landscape. It's clear the multi-faceted entertainer, despite her success as an actress, designer and business mogul, was invigorated in making this record. That energy is apparent, and it'll leave you asking for some of what she's having...

Reba amazes me again with a great country album and my personal favorite of hers! I thought "Room to Breathe" was great, but this is even better! My favorite has to be "Maggie Creek Road," as it as a deep and truly haunting song that gave me the chills! You go Reba!

"Strange"- 9/10
"Just When I Thought I'd Stopped Loving You"- 9/10
"I Keep On Loving You"- 9/10
"I Want A Cowboy"- 9/10
"Consider Me Gone"- 10/10
"But Why"- 7.5/10
"Pink Guitar"- 9.5/10
"She's Turning 50 Today"- 8.5/10
"Eight Crazy Hours (In The Story Of Love)"- 9.5/10
"Nothing To Lose"- 8/10
"Over You"- 7.5/10
"Maggie Creek Road"- 20/10
"I'll Have What She's Having"- 10/10

Overall, most of the songs on here are near perfect, and there isn't one that I desperately want to skip everytime it plays. Reba's been singing for over 30 years, and she still remains at the top of her game. You go Reba!

Keep On Loving You is quite possibly Reba's best album so far. It contains a varied range of music and shows that the Queen of Country is still on the throne! Top songs are Strange, I keep on Loving You, Nothing To Lose, and Over You. This album should have several number 1's to add to the list. Great work, REBA!!

'Keep on Loving You' marks Reba McEntire's first solo effort in six years and the 25th album in her long career in country music. While many popular country acts of today are making music that sounds less like country and more like a fusion of country and pop, what is striking about 'Keep on Loving You' is how it stands a strong reminder of not the 2000s Reba McEntire but of the '80s country star and diva. There are a lot of tracks on here that are pure country with elements of swing, with rarely used fiddles/violins and a lot of twang and sway.

The Good: I enjoyed Reba taking on more upbeat songs. the first half of the release is definitely the strongest because these songs featured something of a new theme for Reba. Instead of the expected heartbreak, heart ache, sad songs she's gotten down to an art, we hear a far more upbeat, fun, sassy Reba McEntire. Some of the songs sound like something the younger artists like Carrie Underwood or perhaps the group Sugarland would cover; on 'Strange' she sings a very upbeat song about getting over heart ache and being stronger at the end of a relationship rather than weak and heart broken; 'I Want A Cowboy' is perhaps my favorite track, with her simply describing her ideal man and getting a bit sensual as she flaunts her sexuality around, something she hardly does in her music; 'Consider Me Gone' may have hints of heartbreak and melancholy but it's very upbeat with a hint of optimism in the face of (yes) a relationship souring. Even with some of the less impressive songs, I enjoyed the old feeling they had because they reminded me of some of her older material and a sound she's not touched much. Lyrically, 'Maggie Creek Road' tells a story and is stylistically similar to 'Fancy'. 'I'll Have What She's Having' sounds very left field with its swing elements, but lyrically it's very tongue-in-cheek and shows off Reba's sense of humor.

The Bad: I really enjoyed the 'new' sound and music that opened the release. Mid-way through, it loses steam with songs that sound as if they were selected in an attempt to inject the expected Reba sad, heartache, facts of life-type songs that have come to define her. 'She's Turning 50 Today' and 'Eight Crazy Hours' are okay, but they tell more of a story than they feature good music. These are songs I feel after a listen, I'd skip over. They aren't horrible but they cause a rather frustrating lull in the middle of the release and the upbeat songs that are the strongest and open 'Keep On Loving You' never seem to make a comeback before the end.

In all, this release will really appeal to those who are either seeking classic country music or are looking for Reba McEntire music that will remind you of her hits from the 1980s and early 1990s. I enjoyed it and even though there are a few snoozers, all of the tracks are worth listening to and this is one of the few releases worth purchasing and adding to your collection.

Tracks to Listen To: Strange, Over You, I Want a Cowboy, Consider Me Gone, Maggie Creek Road

Prime Cuts: She's Turning 50 Today, But Why, (Eight Crazy Hours in) The Story of Love

It is ultra rare that a superstar would grant us privy into her private world. Yet the songs on McEntire's latest CD "Keep on Loving You" (her first since leaving MCA Nashville Records) read like entries torn right out of her diary. Without any facade of pretension, she shares with us in all transparency her insecurities of aging ("She's Turning 50 Today"), her frustrations of being emotionally unfulfilled ("Consider Me Gone"), her fascination of being a guitar-playing chick rocker ("Pink Guitar") and her determination not to be trodden by her cad ("Strange"). It is McEntire's perspicuity in articulating the deepest issues of her heart that is this CD's apogee. Teaming with producers Tony Brown (George Strait and Vince Gill) and Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood) this is quite a polished CD that shows no sign of McEntire retreating from the front lines of today's country radio's competitive playlists. But traditionalists need not worry, McEntire has not completely sold herself out to the pop-country market, there are still some endearing heart wrenching rustic numbers that remind us that our diva is still a country gal at heart.

Without an iota of doubt, there are a few numbers here recording with an eye for McEntire to re-claim her throne on the country charts. Though it only peaked at a paltry (as far as McEntire's track history is concerned) 11th position on the Billboard chart, "Strange" is the perfect lead single. Refreshing, upbeat and ultra hip: McEntire delivers an anthem of love's resilience clothed in the narrative of a woman who refuses to fall into an emotional wasteland after being spurned by love. Sophomore single "Consider Me Gone" continues the same strong woman's theme: this time with McEntire bidding her emotionally tepid hubby goodbye. Sounding like she has shed twenty years off her age, "I Want a Cowboy" (formerly found on co-writer Katrina Elam's album) shows a more youthful side of McEntire as she belts out lasciviously: "I want the Wranglers/Stetson/ and all that stuf/I want the real McCoy/I want a Cowboy." Screeching guitar licks and pounding drums bring McEntire into her rocking excursion with "Pink Guitar" where McEntire verbalizes her fetish to be a guitar playing rock chick. Lyrically it lacks originality (remember Wynonna Judd's "Girls with Guitars?") and the crowded backings just don't match McEntire's rural southern twang.

Yet not all is tailored towards commercialism: perhaps one of the most heart-shedding pieces McEntire has ever recorded is "She's Turning 50 Today." With her husband taking a fancy to a woman half her age, "She's Turning 50 Today" details with graphic details the emotional nightmare for every middle-aged woman--this is devastating stuff at its very best. Formerly recorded by Shelly Fairchild, "Eight Hours (In the Story of Love)" in many ways is an indictment against the facade many women put up when they know the loneliness welling in their souls. Less creative but no less powerful is the big balladry of "Over You" a song that demonstrates that the Queen of country still has the chomps to soar the high notes. Yet, not all the ballads are besotted by grief, "But Why" is a beautiful love song that calls to mind McEntire's "Forever Love" - elegant, romantic and beautifully performed.

Though not everyone's cup of tea: "Maggie Creek Road" is a carefully crafted murder story situated in the swampy mire of the Deep South. Much lighter and much more enjoyable is the Georgia Middleman's western swing co-write "I'll Have What She's Having." After 30 albums and with songs this good, McEntire shows that she has the tenacity to keeping going on and on.

This is the same album as the one in regular stores it has the same 13 tracks as Keep on Loving You except it has a bonus DVD exclusive to Target stores only. This is not a deluxe edition people it's a Target Exclusive.

The track listing & song length or video length for the 2 disc is as follows:
Disc 1 (CD):
1. Strange - 2:59
2. Just When I Thought I'd Stopped Loving You - 3:49
3. I Keep on Lovin' You - 3:13
4. I Want a Cowboy - 3:38
5. Consider Me Gone - 3:37
6. But Why - 3: 27
7. Pink Guitar - 2:52
8. She's Turning 50 Today - 4:04
9. Eight Crazy Hours (In the Story of Love) - 4:03
10. Nothing to Lose - 4:46
11. Over You - 3:56
12. Maggie Creek Road - 4:49
13. I'll Have What She's Having - 2:57
Enhanced Content:
1. "Strange" music video - 2:57
2. "Consider Me Gone" from CMT Invitation Only - 3:38

Disc 2 (Target Exclusive DVD):
1. Making of the Video "Strange" - 22:27
2. Strangest "Strange" Questions - 5:00
3. Reba "Day of Stardom" Behind the Scenes! - 4:00

I think she is and will always be one of my favorite country singers of all times. She has such grace about her and a voice that is especially unique which makes this cd even more enjoyable to listen to

This is my first time to hear a Rebe album, well , paid attention to her any way, But the song "Maggie Creek Road " really struck my fancy . I decided to listen to the rest of the album on a whim and really liked it. Have decided to go back and listen to some of her other music to see if I can find some other treasures.
Signed, A New Reba Fan.

Reba McEntire shows why she remains a Country superstar with her
latest release "Keep On Loving You."
The songs primarily tell the stories of women at different phases of their
lives. "Strange" tells the story of how one woman gets over being dumped by
her Ex. "Pink Guitar" deals with a young girl's dreams of being "Dressed in
black like Johnny Cash with a pink guitar." "She's Turning 50 Today"
focuses how on one woman's unique approach to the big 5-0.
The best songs show McEntire's strengths as a singer. "Maggie Creek Road"
shows McEntire's fiery and tough side in a song about a Mother taking on
her daughter's attacker. "Over You" shows Reba's tender and vulnerable side
as she sings about a woman who can't move on as well as her ex does.
McEntire also shows that she still has some tricks up her sleeve. She shows
a surprisingly sexy side on "But Why" and a playfulness on "I'll Have What
She's Having."
Ultimately, it's Reba's sincerity that makes "Keep On Loving You" one of her
best releases. McEntire always seems to want to tell a story with each song she
sings. She brings the listener in and allows them to somehow relate to the song.
Reba McEntire is a modern country legend beloved by millions of fans and will
find more with her latest release.-BobsViews

This CD was worth the wait! It's a saying that good things are worth the wait and it's true when it comes to Reba CD's! I love keep on loving you! I hope all Reba fan get this cd!