First off, there's "One Last Good Hand," a breezily optimistic look at longterm love. Its bouncy melody and simple lyrics were a nice change of pace. Also, "Take It Back," which is Reba at her most engaging. This woman informs her man that she KNOWS the score, and would rather do without him than accept his philandering. Sassy!

Ballads, however, dominate the album, which is to be expected on a Reba release. "Straight From You" is a thematic rehash of a prior hit "Rumor Has It" while the title track covers similar territory, except that we're now dealing with facts and not mere rumors. The latter is quintessential Reba: a woman scorned, but never, EVER, wallowing in self-pity.

Reba's voice has always been superior to the majority of her material, and It's Your Call, her 20th album, was no exception. She rises to the occasion and makes each cut at least listenable, and often involving. There were no pop remakes such as "Respect" or "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" this time around. Just good solid country. Overall, it was one of her better releases.


P.U.!! TAKE IT BACK!!!!   September 14, 2005
hope (Atlanta, GA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Most of Reba McEntire's 90s CDs are so bad they're funny. Obviously this woman, inexplicably has a huge fan base. I guess they'll buy anything she puts out. But this attempt sticks to high heaven, just like her "Rumor Has It" project. There is not ONE single good song in the entire bunch here. This CD was a big disappointment after her "triumph" in "For My Broken Heart", her tribute to the band members she lost in the plane crash. Reba said this was a continuation of her feelings but this CD lacks the emotional punch the former had. Some decent material would have helped her but there is not one single song here, as I said, that is worth it. Not even her duet with Vince Gill "The Heart Won't Lie". This is just more "bubblegum pop/country. Reba McEntire is tremendously overrated as an artist and as a singer. She wouldn't be if she would just go back to doing "traditional country". This CD....P.U.!!!!