Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection
Reba the redheaded rein dear delivers a mixed bag of cheer on her new holiday record.Secret of Givinggets off to a great start with "This Is My Prayer for You," an upbeat, fairly unvarnished country tune with a lively little fiddle break. But unless you're a full-on Reba fan, it's pretty much downhill sledding from there as McEntire falls back on the Nashville formula for many of the originals penned for the album. While her voice is always in good form--and she suggestsBrenda LeeandLoretta Lynnin "I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus"--there are too many predictable chord progressions and decorative shadings in songs such as "Santa Claus Is Coming Back to Town," a heartbreak Christmas song. What she needs is more tunes like the closing cut and the title track, a sparsely arranged acoustic number that avoids maudlin sentiments and faux cheer. No amount of children singing ("The Angels Sang") or pretty playing can get her out of the deep ruts that Nashville has got most of its stars stuck in these days.--Martin Keller