Waking Up Laughing (April 3)
3 1/2 stars
After her phenomenal 2005 album of classic country covers, Timeless, Martina McBride returns to the here and now with Waking Up Laughing, her ninth studio album and yet another accomplished, endlessly listenable collection of contemporary country tunes. Laughing is wholly modern, with slick, expansive production from McBride herself and a well-integrated adult-contemporary crossover sound.
McBride’s spectacular voice makes up for the cheesiness of some of the ballads, and her sincerity is obvious and winning. The best tunes, like the rootsy, organ-drenched “Cry Cry (’Til the Sun Shines)” and the bright, bouncy “Beautiful Again,” don’t oversell their sweet, optimistic messages, and represent both McBride and contemporary country at their best.