An album of quality ballads
When Reba recorded this album, she was still coming to terms with the loss of several road musicians in a plane crash. The first album following that sad event, For my broken heart, was an extremely sad but well-crafted album. This albums shows that Reba had started to move away from that situation but is still, overall, a reflective album.

The title track is about a woman forcing a man to choose her or another woman, who just happens to be on the end of a telephone line waiting for his answer. Straight from you is also about a woman who suspects her man of two timing, only in this case she's not certain. Take it back continues the theme of an unfaithful man - this time it is an up-tempo song in which the man gives himself away by bringing home gifts obviously meant for another woman. Following that trilogy about unfaithful men comes Baby gone blues. This would link nicely to first three songs if the man has chosen the other woman.

Next comes a duet with Vince Gill - an excellent ballad titled The heart won't lie. It's not my favorite duet of theirs because that distinction belongs to Oklahoma swing, a song that appeared on Vince's breakthrough album, When I call your name. Nevertheless, it is a great showcase for their talents.

One last good hand is a brilliant song about dreams coming true in a long-term successful relationship. He wants to get married is another song of optimism. For herself is the story of an independent person who does what she wants. Will he ever go away and Lighter shade of blue are two songs about men who left a long time ago but the women left behind cannot forget.

This is an excellent contemporary country album.

First off, there's "One Last Good Hand," a breezily optimistic look at longterm love. Its bouncy melody and simple lyrics were a nice change of pace. Also, "Take It Back," which is Reba at her most engaging. This woman informs her man that she KNOWS the score, and would rather do without him than accept his philandering. Sassy!

Ballads, however, dominate the album, which is to be expected on a Reba release. "Straight From You" is a thematic rehash of a prior hit "Rumor Has It" while the title track covers similar territory, except that we're now dealing with facts and not mere rumors. The latter is quintessential Reba: a woman scorned, but never, EVER, wallowing in self-pity.

Reba's voice has always been superior to the majority of her material, and It's Your Call, her 20th album, was no exception. She rises to the occasion and makes each cut at least listenable, and often involving. There were no pop remakes such as "Respect" or "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" this time around. Just good solid country. Overall, it was one of her better releases.

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