So, I'm spinning this for the first time in a lonnnnng time, and I'm struck anew by the artistry. Long before the giggles and sex-kitten come-ons became tired, this album struck a nice balance between the vampy and funny Janet Jackson.

Great songs, sophisticated sampling, slick production and energy -- this album ranks as JJ's best, IMO.

Let's hear it for "Janet!"

Janet at her best.

It's got some great songs on it. It's not among my top 5 Janet albums, but it's decent.

My favorite is Anytime, Anyplace for sure.

yay!!

If

Still ranks below Control, Rhythm Nation and Velvet Rope for me though..

It took a while for me to realize this is not her best album but one of my favorites for the nostalgic factor alone. The lazy groove of TTWLG, the hotness of If and the sultry Anytime, Anyplace and it's easy to see why this was Janet's peak period.

Throb, Funky Big Band, Because Of Love, If, New Agenda, What'll I Do You Want This....damn u cant go wrong with this cd!

Good cd. Some of Janet's best ballads are from this album IMO. The only thing I dislike about the album is the production. The drum programming is weak and Janet's vocals are way too low in the mix. Overall, a good cd.

Thats the way Love Goes cant be beat.
You want this is a fucking banger, i cant help but git down when that joint comes on.
If is a classic, pure and simple. Love the guitars.
This Time-the precursor to What About-great thumping beats, good lyrics - a hidden gem in her catalogue.
Throb - eh, sounds like the b side to a Madonna reject.
What'll I do - Janet goes rock/country for the first time - a million miles ahead of her next attempt (read: Just a Little While).
Funky Big Band = amazing.
New Agenda = ditto. Shoulda been on RN1814 tho. You know they pulled that one out from those sessions.
Because of Love = cant do it. bass/drums are too weak, too pop lite top 40 for me.
Again = yuck. least favorite of her hits. song is so dull. play it 5 times in a row if you suffer from insomnia. shit will put you out faster than a shot of gin.
where are you now = i love this song. it's so cheesy, but i listened to it about 3040490940 times in jr high lamenting my love for someone who dropped me like I's hot.
the body that loves you - dont think i've ever had the patience to sit through the whole thing. great tune for the first 90 seconds that goes nowhere. great vocal production tho.
anytime anyplace - could very well be my favorite janet tune. number one stunner - god this song will never get old to me.
whoops now - no thanks. good call on not listing this one on the back.

My favourite Janet Jackson album. For some reason or another I didn't really take to Control and Rhythm Nation. Janet was about sophistication and sensuality.

TonyVanDam said:

a great video

i love "This Time"

InsatiableCream said:

So do I. And I'm very surprise that there wasn't a video for it.

"This Time" is my very favorite Janet song on any of her albums, and a top 10 song of all time for me. "Where Are You Now" is also one of my favorites.

One of the best albums of the '90s and one of the best albums Janet's done in her career.

TonyVanDam said:

[Edited 11/25/07 18:42pm]

One of my all time faves by Janet!

Thats the way love goes, Whoops Now and Anytime anyplace are my all time faves!

I jammed this album from summer of `93 to summer of `94. I love it front to back, just like Control or Rhythm Nation.

One of her best.

badujunkie said:

I hear "What About" as sort of a re-tread. These days I prefer janet. over Velvet Rope simply because janet. had a lot more "firsts".

I loved "Janet". Still do.

Her best album, I think. I may have more connection to "Rhythm Nation" and "The Velvet Rope" may be more interesting. But objectively, I'd have to say this is Janet at her absolute best. Every album since (even TVR, as edgy as it is) follows pretty much the same formula, but it gets more and more diluted every time out.

Easily her best album.
And no by no coincidence, the last with her husband Rene at the helm.
He had the right idea about where she should be taking her music.

Flash forward and look at where the troll has her now. Yikes.

ButterscotchPimp said:

The Velvet Rope was her last collaboration with Rene.

forgot about that.
so just move my last statement forward an album.

still applies, though.

If you guys don't already know... when this album was out i was in elementry school watching barney.... so I never knew about it.. until like early 2000... so it was like 2001.. my mom bought my sister MJ invincible and bought me this album.... and i thought there were like 5 or 6 AMAZING SONGS on this album just amazing.... Again, If, TTWLG, ATAP, What Ill do, Because of love, and You want this.... but i thought all the other songs

this album proves my theory.. because YOu can have an OKAY album that sells really well and big hit... just because you have a few AMAZING songs that carry the album... and she had IF and TTWLG... without those songs this album probably would not sell.... honestly this album was an OKAY album... it had some treasures on it... and during this time janet was extremely popular in the media... so that also helped.. therefore proving both of my theories...