Released 10 years ago
Reckless
Martina McBride · 2016
35 min · 10 tracks · country music
A vibrant blend of contemporary country and heartfelt ballads, underscored by McBride's powerful vocals and emotional storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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It Ain’t Pretty — This track stands out with its poignant exploration of the complexities of love and relationships, featuring a beautifully haunting melody that complements the lyrics.
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Everybody Wants to Be Loved — Offering an upbeat perspective on universal longing, this song combines catchy hooks with relatable lyrics, making it an anthem for connection and acceptance.
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Reckless Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of vulnerability and boldness, showcasing McBride's vocal strength against a backdrop of rich instrumentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and production but doesn't significantly stand out in the genre.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a faster pace that contrasts with the previous songs.
- Several tracks feature layered harmonies and prominent backing vocals, enhancing the emotional weight of McBride's lead vocals.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo sing-alongs
- heartfelt storytelling moments
- uplifting tracks for road trips
- warm vocals for cozy evenings
Maybe skip if you
- fast-paced party atmosphere
- intense emotional depth seekers
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued artistic evolution and strong reception after a hiatus.
- Themes
- love's unpredictability· heartbreak struggles· authentic connection
- Career context
- Released in 2016, Reckless is Martina McBride's thirteenth studio album and marks her return after a four-year hiatus since Eleven. This album illustrates her continued evolution as an artist, delving deeper into personal themes while maintaining her signature sound in country music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Reba McEntire· Carrie Underwood· Trisha Yearwood
Tracklist
- 1 Reckless Start here 3:31
- 2 It Ain’t Pretty 3:19
- 3 Just Around the Corner 3:30
- 4 Everybody Wants to Be Loved 4:11
- 5 The Real Thing 3:24
- 6 That’s the Thing About Love 3:29
- 7 Low All Afternoon 3:50
- 8 Diamond 2:59
- 9 We’ll Pick Up Where We Left Off 4:15
- 10 You and You Alone 2:59
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Shares a vibrant country pop sound with heartfelt storytelling and themes of love and connection.
The Blade
Ashley Monroe
Focuses on emotional narratives and personal reflections, blending country roots with modern production.
By the Way, I Forgive You
Brandi Carlile
Explores deep emotional themes with powerful vocals and contemporary folk influences, resonating with authenticity.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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