Janet is 40 years old, but she has said that she feels half her age, and her breakthrough as a pop phenomenon occurred in 1986 -- hence the title of her ninth album. 20 Y.O. is her safest and tamest work since 1984's Dream Street, not only because she couldn't have possibly taken her sexed-up confessional routine beyond the tidbits and techniques divulged throughout 2004's Damita Jo. With only a few exceptions, 20 Y.O. provides further refinements of the fun, flirtatious, midtempo songs of her past several albums. This is not a problem. Even when there are clear instances where Janet, along with principal collaborators Jermaine Dupri, Johnta Austin, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, are taking an extended ride on the electro-nostalgia bandwagon -- "So Excited" samples Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," patches of "Get It Out Me" resemble Afrika Bambaataa's "Looking for the Perfect Beat," "Show Me" might not have happened without the existence of Ciara's "Goodies" -- they are too fresh and infectious to be considered knock-offs. There are crafty analogues and references to various points in Jackson's past: "This Body"'s rock edge recalls "Black Cat" (though it's more of a strutter than a headbanger), "Daybreak" sparkles and glides like "Runaway" and "Escapade," and "Take Care" is a classic Janet ballad in the vein of "Come Back to Me." The parallels are natural enough that they don't seem all that premeditated. Almost as significantly, the album is roughly 20 minutes shorter than usual, with only a handful of interludes, so there's little meandering, in turn making it easier to become familiar with the curves. What really differentiates the album from its predecessors is that there's almost no trace of tension to be heard. It's all about fooling around and being in love. Janet's gang of assistants is on top of its game, and Janet herself has remembered that she doesn't have to be willfully explicit or eclectic to make a sexy and wholly enjoyable album.

source: http://allmusic.com/cg/am...z1z84a6yvo

Interesting. They also posted this artwork:



I'll buy the album. I've heard four songs that I like.

What is fresh about a bunch of samples? I'm confused.....

6sixx6 said:

Maybe they meant fresh as in "dope" or "chill" or "hype."

Music really is dead. I'm sorry, this is not her best album.

Paris Hilton's has 4 1/2 Stars.

...so it's better

PANDURITO said:

Thats so true, if Janets review validates her release then so does Paris. I checked this site and CASSIE got a 4.5 stars also.

Just what we've all been waiting for; another Janet thread. Who says the org is dumbing down? btw, anyone who takes these type of reviews seriously is a naive motherfucker. There are very few reviewers out there who have a licence to tell the truth. Very few.

TommyRoss said:

whoknows said:

So what's ur review?

This naive motherfucker would love to read your review!

Grow up!
[Edited 9/25/06 10:52am]

[Edited 9/25/06 10:53am]

The sad thing is, I think they've got all of the comparisions wrong; 'This Body' is much more 'Trust a Try' than it is 'Black Cat', 'Daybreak' really doesn't remind me of 'Escapade' or 'Runaway' other than the fact that it's a feel good pop song. And 'Take Care' and 'Come Back to Me'? Please! One is probably Janet's best ballad ever, and the other is just another tuneless sex jam. Guess which is which.

I read another review compairing 'Enjoy' to 'Escapade', which, again is wrong. 'Enjoy' reminds me more of 'Because of Love' every time I listen to it.

Anyway, I have been listening to the album just to see if anything grows on me... 'Do it To Me' is decent, 'RockwitU' (or however it's spelled) should've been on the "official" version, I really like 'Daybreak', and 'Enjoy' is pleasant enough. Still, other than 'Daybreak', I don't think any song is up to Janet's pre-1998 standards. The good stuff on the CD is only as good as the fillers on 'janet.' or 'Velvet Rope'. The mediocre stuff (50% of the album) is worse than any album filler she's ever done, and the truly bad songs are probably the most awful stuff she's recorded since 1984.

MikeMatronik said:

I think the point of all of this is that its all our own opinion, i havent heard the Janet record yet so i cant say whether its good or not, but even i did, again, its how i think of it. I mean ive seen great reviews for albums and then i really didnt like them and vice versa, so in the end its all opinion.

lastdecember said:

*Note that is not directed at you...but just me saying what I feel!*

Have in mind that some orgers don't respect the opinion of others, and consider others inferiors because of their musical taste....

MikeMatronik said:

No i know, im just inputting some thoughts to the subject. I think when someone takes time to post a review or give their own vibe on a record we should just thank them for taking the time, rather than ripping it.

lastdecember said:

I don't think this album is necessarily better than Damita Jo, which got horrible reviews because it was fashionable to bash Janet during that period. Now that Janet is having her "comeback" the reviews are going with the flow.

its great that AMG gave janet and tori stellar reviews for their latest works but this is the same site that gave emancipation and graffiti bridge better reviews than rainbow children. they also gave 3121 a better review than lovesexy.
[Edited 9/25/06 11:48am]

MikeMatronik said:

It's not about respecting people's opinions it's about realising that 80% of reviewers have their hands tied when writing. As has been pointed out already, this site has given rave reviews to Cassie and Paris Hilton's albums as well. You don't need a degree in media studies to be able to smell bullshit.

6sixx6 said:

thank u 6 !!!!

PANDURITO said:

Which, ah, says it all about AMG really.

prettymansson said:

But we have to remember Janet has always had samples in her songs since Rhythm Nation. I think what's changed it the way Jimmy and Terry has use the sample.

musicman said:

The Sly sample on Rhythm Nation was clever and accented the song - more often than not lately, samples become a distraction in popular music and a lazy way of "making" music.

TommyRoss said:

True. That's why I say Jimmy and Terry's use of the sample have gotten a bit lazy.

I like So Excited and call on me a tiny tiny bit. I dont know if I want to buy it.

I want to hear it all first.

whoknows said:

Yeah so then that really means no reviewer has any credit. I mean i saw a 4 star review for Cassie in Rolling Stone, and they are supposed to be a creditable source. I mean if we are just going to accept a critic when they say what we want to hear, then does it really matter?

I'm listening to the album for the first time, and I've gotten through "Call on Me". I'm pleasantly surprised. They definitely are right about this being a comfortable release, but I'm actually kind of down with that. So far "Show Me" and "Do It 2 Me" are my favorite uptempo songs, and "With U" is simply a gorgeous, classic Janet ballad.

I think I'll be buying it. My reaction when I heard it was only a decent reception. It's a hell of a lot better than All For You, slightly better than Damita Jo, and nowhere near classics such as The Velvet Rope or janet. Which is fine. I understand that both those albums were her peak artistically, and that she might not reach those heights again.

I liked the JJ and TL cuts the most, and some of the JD tracks were pretty cool, though some were a tad bland.

Overall, this might not be exactly Janets best album, but it certainly has some pretty high moments.

Favorite Trax: Daybreak, Enjoy, So Excited, and two others that I cant remember

This album is pleasantly good. There aren't many complete home runs in my estimation ("With U" and "Enjoy" are the only ones I'd call GREAT), but I enjoy this album! I definitely like it more than Damita Jo, but I'm one of the few who loves All for You, and 20 Y.O. doesn't touch that.

After the terrible reception of it here, I feared a lot worse. I feel the collective opinion of this website is too negative when it concerns Janet.

Moonbeam said:

Moonbeam,what songs would you pick as the future singles?

SoulAlive said:

I definitely think the 2 I highlighted would make good singles. "With U" is a pretty undeniable ballad, and "Enjoy" is classic feel-good Janet where she showcases what pop is at its best, uplifting and memorable. I could also see one of the more urban songs (except for "My Body") having success.

I listened this morning on Yahoo, and for me the best track on there is Take Care. Great ballad! Love 2 Love reminds me a lot of Anytime, Anyplace.