RECORD REVIEWS

Reba McEntire

Album: “Love Somebody”

Grade: A

“Love Somebody” is Reba McEntire’s best album of the 21st century because it draws on her strengths: that is, subtly and powerfully interpreting substantial story songs about adult relationships set to contemporary country music.

At 60, the performer — she bills herself by her first name these days — remains a remarkable vocalist, capable of stunning ferocity and dramatic nuance. She’s one of the great traditional country singers of her time, but she prefers pushing herself to stay current. Always ambitious, she errs only when she tries to appeal to radio with material that’s too lightweight for her talent and maturity.

“Love Somebody” strikes a perfect blend, especially on songs such as “She Got Drunk Last Night,” written by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and the title song, co-written by Sam Hunt, which finds McEntire rising to a challenge of mixing tongue-twisting stanzas with a testifying chorus.

With “Love Somebody,” McEntire proves she still has far too much to say to rest on her laurels.

— Michael McCall, Associated Press

Bachman

Album: “Heavy Blues”

Grade: A

Where has THIS been for the past four decades?

Randy Bachman, who made classic rock history with Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Guess Who, has recorded his best album since 1976.

The name says it all: heavy blues, delivered with help from an all-star cast of guests, including Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph and Jeff Healey.

If this was 1975 and the radio still played rock, there might be a half-dozen hit singles on “Heavy Blues.” The opening track, “The Edge,” sounds like BTO playing a mashup of “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” and The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

“Ton of Bricks” hits the listener as advertised; “Little Girl Lost,” a daddy-never-loved-me, now-I’m-a-hooker song, features some memorable, instantly recognizable fuzz-tone guitar from Young; and “Confessing to the Devil” features posthumous licks from Healey from a long-ago unreleased session with Bachman.

The catchiest track on the album is “Wild Texas Ride,” featuring a boogie drum beat over raw guitars and enough cowbells to make even Will Ferrell happy. It’s really good to see Bachman takin’ care of business again.

— Wayne Parry, Associated Press

LUDACRIS

Album: “Ludaversal”

Grade: B

Whether as Chris Bridges or as his nom de rap, Ludacris, the emcee-turned-actor has spent the latter half of this decade honing his cinematic skills, notably in the “Fast and Furious” series. This can’t hide the fact that, earlier in the 2000s, he was an avatar in pushing Atlanta (the city and the aesthetic) in the Dirty South’s rise to hip-hop prominence. With a voice like a hot slide trombone, a patented punctuated flow, and a friendly, lyrical braggadocio, Ludacris has carved out his own brand of pop-hop.

With producer David Banner providing double-time rhythms, title track “Ludaversal” announces the rapper’s rude intentions and deep commitment: “They say Luda don’t want it no more/ Nah, I’m as hungry as the first day.” Sure, there are a lot of “I’m back” bits and typical rap gloats and boasts, but Ludacris still manages to go deep and ruminate.

—A.D. Amorosi, Philadelphia Inquirer