Let me preface this by saying that this was the first Martina McBride album I ever bought. I have since bought a few of her earlier albums. 'Waking Up Laughing' is an album that is very pleasant and endearing to listen to over-all, but in spots the lyrics are downright clutsy. I am not quite sure why some country artists feel the need to reaffirm their faith in God in songs to the general public--can't we figure that out for ourselves? She is sweet and she is good and all that but somehow I can't get around the fact that she has to spell that out so often. Martina works the same sort of material, in the same vein as Patty Loveless, but Patty did it in a way that does not make you feel below her-- she's just one of us. Martina's voice is beautiful, but I think it may have dropped half-an-octave. She sounds like she is pushing it a bit on many songs. I do, however, recommend this album.
November 2, 2008Martina McBride sang a song titled Anyway and this has fit right in my life. I have been through so much in my life from my past to the present and at times it is difficult to live with DEPRESSION. The good lord above has dealt me quite a bit in life but for some reason he thinks I was a person to take it all. In my past a person just left my life, no reason or explanation was given to me, through the years I have lost people due to death and then living in this world today at not being 100 percent happy ,but chose to move to another state after 31 years is insane. Though i have been through so much of good times and sad times, tough times, I have not given up with my faith in the lord. I pray everyday and several times and hope that I continue to be blessed. I just do it anyway . Thank you Martina
September 25, 2008 |  | Wanted to love it but.... |  |
Martina McBride has an amazing, beautiful, strong voice. But I did not like this album at all. It was so formulaic and commercial sounding that it was almost insulting to her audiences' intelligence.
There were one or two decent songs but that was about it. Strangely, there was one song that had this upbeat, happy feel, but it was about a very sad, dark subject matter and felt very odd.
I love her voice and I'm sure she's a good person with a big heart but I put this one away and won't ever listen to it again.
I'll listen to some music samples next time she releases another one.
September 4, 2008Fantastic country music by a great country artist. This is a must- have CD for Martina fans.
June 3, 2008Martina McBride has one of the best voices in country music today so it was a huge disappointment that she chose to waste her talent on a CD of second-rate material such as this one. This is her worst album since 1999's Emotion. It's slightly better than that red-hot mess but not by much. It pales in comparison to its predecessor, 2005's Timeless. Timeless was an excellent album, but not what poptry radio is looking for these days. My guess is that in order to avoid being pigeon-holed as "too traditional" or "too country", Martina overcompensated by going too far in the other direction with this effort. It certainly hasn't gotten her back into the good graces of radio, since there have been no major hits from this collection, aside from the lead single "Anyway".
This is not a country CD; it seems to be aimed more at adult-contemporary radio listeners. I'm giving it two stars, instead of one, because there are a few decent songs - "Anyway", "Tryin' To Find A Reason", and "For These Times" - and because I just can't bring myself to give Martina McBride a one-star review.
Bottom line: if you liked "Emotion", you'll probably like "Waking Up Laughing". But if you want real country music, pass on this one and hope Martina offers up something better the next time around.
May 16, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(60 reviews)
