Album Review

** 1/2 Reba McEntire, “If You See Him,” MCA Nashville. In the liner notes, McEntire says a broken leg that sidelined her for a few months gave her more time to pick and choose material for this album. But except for her snazzy new pixie hairdo, there’s nothing drastically different from what she’s been doing for the last decade: big-boned pop-country numbers about love’s drama.

Because the material is so heavily situation-driven rather than character-centered--a confrontation with the other woman, love at first sight, the breakup, the reconciliation--you rarely sense the people in those situations. That said, many of the songs are solid enough. In two duets--the title tune with Brooks & Dunn and “Face to Face” with Linda Davis--the extra voices provide a better sense of individuality.

McEntire’s melismatic vocals are as impressive as ever, although often as not she sounds as if she’s thinking more about the melodic opportunities than the emotions. If only she’d apply that powerhouse voice to first-rate songs by Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, John Prine. . . .

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).