While many of her contemporaries (including Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless) imbued their 2005 releases with a traditional bent, Martina McBride went one step further and recorded TIMELESS, an entire album of country classics, many of which date back to the 1950s and '60s. McBride's commitment to these songs is evident both on the disc's extensive liner notes (which present many facts about the tunes, such as who originally performed each one), as well as in her soulful, stirring performances. While every track here benefits from her nuanced delivery, McBride shines the brightest on a buoyant version of Ray Price's "I'll Be There" (with additional singing by Dan Tyminski and Rhonda Vincent), a swooning take on Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You," and a delicate rendition of Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" (with harmony vocals by Dolly Parton). For those seeking vintage songs channeled through one of the finest interpretive voices in 21st-century country, TIMELESS is ideal.
Professional Reviews
Entertainment Weekly (No. 847, p.87) - "...[T]he fetching pop-country singer delivers her fiest record..." - Grade: B+
