By Bob Gulla

For those not sated, even put off by the lack of country intentions on the new Shania Twain record, consider Martina McBride's latest album, Evolution, which sounds positively Appalachian by comparison.

Of course, McBride has also proven herself to be an adept country/pop vocalist and Evolution shows no signs of letting up in that direction. Songs here like "Valentine" (featuring pop pianist Jim Brickman) and the Celtic-flavored country pop of "Happy Girl" position McBride within the pop country singing circle. But in terms of sheer country music soul, McBride's still got it in joyous abundance. Evolution shows her to be completely in love with the true country idiom, whether it's building up to belting the chorus in a song like "Be That Way," or whether it's hangin' on the nifty gospel blues licks of "Broken Wing." McBride's intentions never waver, and by opening the album with a minute-long recording of herself at the age of seven, singing a ditty called "I'm Little But I'm Loud," she proves her heart is in all the right places.

By Michael McCall

McBride's material can be inconsistent, and she occasionally spends too much energy singing with all her force instead of interpreting lyrics. But on songs like "A Broken Angel" and "Happy Girl," she's as convincing an artist as anyone in mainstream country music.

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