CD
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
The opening blast of saxophone on Read My Mind's opening cut, "Everything You Want," and its Dire Straits-style atmosphere tell you that Reba (no last name needed) is no ordinary country artist. She continues her adventurous ways throughout the album, delving into a Chicago blues swagger on "Why Haven't I Heard From You" and insightful folk-pop on "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter." Then there's the rockabilly kick of "I Won't Stand in Line," which shifts into overdrive with a smoking gospel chorus. But the real strength of Read My Mind is in its ballads. The title tune is a masterful statement of longing. "She Thinks His Name Was John" is strong stuff -- the tragic tale of a one-night stand that leaves the song's narrator HIV-positive. Being a Reba record, there's heartbreak in "I Wish that I Could Tell You" and obsessive love in "Till You Love Me," and few singers can convey those feelings better than Reba. More importantly, few country artists are willing to take similar emotional chances, which is why Reba is still queen. Bob Cannon, Barnes & Noble