Emancipated, but is it the return to form she so needed? (The Emancipation Of Mimi - Mariah Carey)

Member Name: Jark

Product:	The Emancipation Of Mimi - Mariah Carey
Date:	25/07/08 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing production, modern-day MC classics aplenty

Disadvantages: The odd slightly boring ballad

If CDs were judged by their covers, The Emancipation Of Mimi would without a doubt be one of the best albums of all-time. Seeing Mariah Carey, the diva the world had all but written off, stood glowing in figure-hugging gold and looking almost as bronzed herself, there's little doubt that Mariah is one of the world's most stunning women - but can the music live up to this tremendous cover art masterpiece?

As with every other Mimi album up until the point of TEOM, the first track is the lead single, this time the club-infused It's Like That. The song boasts a slightly crunkish sound, balanced with the smooth R&B listeners have come to expect from MC. It's a gem of a track and a totally worthy comeback; clearly the public thought so too, for the song reached the US Top 20 (no single from her previous two albums even made the Top 40) and the UK Top 5. We Belong Together follows; the song the whole world knows. 'Come back baby, please, cos we belong together' Mariah cooes over a tinkling Jermaine Dupri beat. Everything from the gorgeous, sadness-filled lyrics ('Who's gon' talk to me on the phone til the sun comes up?') to the beautiful melody combine to make for a perfect, modern pop ballad, a feat which has thankfully been recognised, now that WBT has gone down in history as an absolute classic. The opening trio of Dupri-produced numbers (also the first three singles lifted from TEOM) concludes with the effortlessly fabulous Shake It Off, a song with a beat so simple it lodges itself into your brain and kicks and screams at the mere suggestion of ever leaving. Indeed, with it's velvety-smooth hook and vocals, Shake It Off is quite possibly my favourite Mariah song of all.

Mine Again comes next. It's another ballad but lacks the magic of WBT. In some ways it could be seen as something of a throwback to the early days of Mariahs career; it's basic message and love-themed lyrical content hark back to a time MC sported a more innocent, traditional image. Say Somethin' follows and is a huge improvement. A Pharrell production with Snoop Dogg featuring on guest vocals, it's 80s-style simple beat and layered, silky vocals ensure it stands out from the crowd where a typical midtempo jam from any other diva might not.

Stay The Night is another down-to-mid-tempo number. Somewhat surprisingly Kanye West has a production credit, despite the song not boasting anything of Kanye's signiature sound; clearly Mariah's credit as the song's main producer is well-deserved, for this is typical MC fare (in the best sense), right down to the whistling adlibs borderline seductive lyrics. Get Your Number, the fourth and final Dupri production on the record, is a bouncing floorfiller with a true party vibe. Mariah flirts with a man in the club over a slick electronic beat, boasting of the 'sick hot tub' in her penthouse. It's tracks like these which show MC's diversity; how easily she flicks between pining for her man to flaunting herself on the dancefloor, both sounding equally convincing. One And Only is another 80s throwback; a slow jam with pizazz aplenty, it works as a showcase for Mariah's sensual, sometimes whispery vocal abilities; as a listener you genuinely feel as if miss Carey is appealing to you for advice on finding her 'one and only' man.

Circles is another vintage-style ballad. There's little to say about aside from the fact that it's a typical MC love song in the very best sense, with a memorable hook, and indeed the song seems to be quite a favourite amongst fans. Your Girl is a short blast of pure pop which is over almost as suddenly as it began. It's three minutes of sunniest summer with joyous vocals layered on top as Mimi glows about the process of getting her man. I Wish You Knew is a rare mis-step, another piece of balladry which showcases some wonderful vocal skills on MC's part but ultimately feels too uneventful, perhaps even dull, to stand out from the rest of the pack. It sounds too dated, like the sort of song she might have been praised for 10 years back but which needs an extra kick in today's competitive musical climate.

To The Floor is a slightly monotone midtempo club-set number, with Nelly on guest vocal duties. The sparse production works well and the track is a solid album cut though not near single material. Joy Ride is a return to form after the slight dip during the later third of the album; again it takes it's influences from past decades, and adopts the silky smooth style both vocally and musically that the album as a whole has perfected so brilliantly. Fly Like A Bird is as stunning as closers come, from the spoken introduction to the choir-sung chorus which compliments Mariah's whistle register and extreme high notes so very well. It's a pure retro number which harks back to the days of the big soul divas whilst still adding a cool modern tint.

The re-rerelease of TEOM includes Don't Forget About Us, a rather forgettable ballad ironically, and is not really worth getting aside from the DVD disc with the first 4 singles' music videos.

To sum up, The Emancipation success in doing what it intended; reminded the world that Mariah Carey is still the best R&B diva of all. The production is ultra-fresh and the hooks come thick and fast.

And, cover or no cover, it really IS one of the best albums of all-time. Without a doubt.

Summary: Perfect, perfect R&B with slices of pop thrown in. Get it.