Musicslave said:

alphastreet said:

namepeace said: Well, there weren't times she still used them with additional producers besides Rene and people were starting to not feel her including long time fans, and the cohesiveness of her albums were never the same since though I think Discipline was a fine and underrated effort going in the right direction again [Edited 11/2/13 14:39pm]

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Yeah, although I agree with NP about Jam & Lewis. I do also think she could include new blood into their well proven mix though. I don't fault her for wanting to branch out and try new things and work with new people. However, time (so far) has proven that she's at her best when those guys are deeply involved in the overall vision for the project. They're just family at this point.

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For instance, they were involved with 20 y.o. but that was Jermaine Dupri's dream job. From what I understand he pretty much limited their judgment about the songs they worked on. This is why I don't consider 20YO a real Janet record. "Enjoy" and "Take Care" were both beautiful because they had no fingerprints of JD on them. Hell, even the Avila Brothers can do Janet better than most of the average new cats.

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"Damita Jo" was a solid effort as quiet as it's kept. I feel this record is the prototype for her comeback. Jam & Lewis was at the helm but they also brought in BAG & Arnthor to divisify and switch things up a bit. I thought this worked well. Not to mention Dallas Austin and Kanye West. I emphasized BAG & Arnthor because their tracks stood out for me as far as tracks not produced by Jam & Lewis. "SloLove" was a single dying to be released. Too bad everybody jumped ship with this project.

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They experimented with this before with bringing in Rockwilda on "All For You".

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We'll see what she's cooking up over in Dubai or wherever she is. I do love the fact that she's completely detached from the US (seemingly) while working on her new stuff. I've read that she's flying different producers in to work with her. Sounds like a page from her big brothers book.

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Damn I got time on my hands this morning. SOrry so looooooong.

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[Edited 11/4/13 7:54am]

Yes, Rockwilder was who I was referring to when first mixing J&T with new people, I think his collabs on All For You were fabulous, though it's a shame none of them became real singles with the exception of Come On Get Up in clubs and in Japan without a video; and the actual releases with videos all had sampling no different from the latest artists then though she did a good job.

Damita Jo is a mixed back. It contains, some of the best, some of the average and some of the worst ever of her career. Warmth and SloLove are the worst songs she has ever done, no matter how much I tried, I could never get into them, especially not slolove. That project has better bonus and non album cuts than what worked on the album,plus the love me for a little while mix. I love Kanye and was feeling Strawberry Bounce and the musical aspect of All For You, but his music is far superior to what he did on Damita Jo, and I'd be interested in hearing what they do together in the future.

As for 20 YO, JD can't work with Janet like he did with Mariah for Mimi, which was a darn good record and way better than 20 YO. If you told me after VR I would be liking others albums over janet's for the next few years, including Madonna's latest works, I would have laughed in your face but that's exactly what happened, even if she has better shows than them. I agree Enjoy, Take Care and even Daybreak are highlights on 20 YO and saved the album from destruction. Get It Out Me and So Excited were cool too, but the others were so bland and boring. Why could JD produce a freestyle song like Control Myself-J LO & L L Cool J for Janet? She would have done well, but he royally screwed up, and it's pretty clear that though she has talent, songwriting and hooks is on the backburner now and was mainly producers, as she herself has said she only does lyrics and melodies with guidance. Days Go By and Roll With U should have replaced other songs as well

Discipline was perfect however, JD became a little ok though I think the supporting producers brought in the magic and achieved recapturing what janet was about though it was disappointing to hear she didn't write a single lyric. She does make it her own though, I'll give her that, and forgive Curtains and Let Me Know, terrible songs!

Musicslave said:

This was probably my favorite song after all was said and done...

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A freakin ballad. I was shocked too. Her performance was heartfelt.

Probably my favorite Janet ballad. Everything about this track is magic. It could have easily been a single. Hell, every song on RN either was or could have been a single!

alphastreet said:

Musicslave said:

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Yeah, although I agree with NP about Jam & Lewis. I do also think she could include new blood into their well proven mix though. I don't fault her for wanting to branch out and try new things and work with new people. However, time (so far) has proven that she's at her best when those guys are deeply involved in the overall vision for the project. They're just family at this point.

-

For instance, they were involved with 20 y.o. but that was Jermaine Dupri's dream job. From what I understand he pretty much limited their judgment about the songs they worked on. This is why I don't consider 20YO a real Janet record. "Enjoy" and "Take Care" were both beautiful because they had no fingerprints of JD on them. Hell, even the Avila Brothers can do Janet better than most of the average new cats.

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"Damita Jo" was a solid effort as quiet as it's kept. I feel this record is the prototype for her comeback. Jam & Lewis was at the helm but they also brought in BAG & Arnthor to divisify and switch things up a bit. I thought this worked well. Not to mention Dallas Austin and Kanye West. I emphasized BAG & Arnthor because their tracks stood out for me as far as tracks not produced by Jam & Lewis. "SloLove" was a single dying to be released. Too bad everybody jumped ship with this project.

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They experimented with this before with bringing in Rockwilda on "All For You".

-

We'll see what she's cooking up over in Dubai or wherever she is. I do love the fact that she's completely detached from the US (seemingly) while working on her new stuff. I've read that she's flying different producers in to work with her. Sounds like a page from her big brothers book.

-

Damn I got time on my hands this morning. SOrry so looooooong.

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[Edited 11/4/13 7:54am]

Yes, Rockwilder was who I was referring to when first mixing J&T with new people, I think his collabs on All For You were fabulous, though it's a shame none of them became real singles with the exception of Come On Get Up in clubs and in Japan without a video; and the actual releases with videos all had sampling no different from the latest artists then though she did a good job.

Damita Jo is a mixed back. It contains, some of the best, some of the average and some of the worst ever of her career. Warmth and SloLove are the worst songs she has ever done, no matter how much I tried, I could never get into them, especially not slolove. That project has better bonus and non album cuts than what worked on the album,plus the love me for a little while mix. I love Kanye and was feeling Strawberry Bounce and the musical aspect of All For You, but his music is far superior to what he did on Damita Jo, and I'd be interested in hearing what they do together in the future.

As for 20 YO, JD can't work with Janet like he did with Mariah for Mimi, which was a darn good record and way better than 20 YO. If you told me after VR I would be liking others albums over janet's for the next few years, including Madonna's latest works, I would have laughed in your face but that's exactly what happened, even if she has better shows than them. I agree Enjoy, Take Care and even Daybreak are highlights on 20 YO and saved the album from destruction. Get It Out Me and So Excited were cool too, but the others were so bland and boring. Why could JD produce a freestyle song like Control Myself-J LO & L L Cool J for Janet? She would have done well, but he royally screwed up, and it's pretty clear that though she has talent, songwriting and hooks is on the backburner now and was mainly producers, as she herself has said she only does lyrics and melodies with guidance. Days Go By and Roll With U should have replaced other songs as well

Discipline was perfect however, JD became a little ok though I think the supporting producers brought in the magic and achieved recapturing what janet was about though it was disappointing to hear she didn't write a single lyric. She does make it her own though, I'll give her that, and forgive Curtains and Let Me Know, terrible songs!

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Aw man, don't even mention, "Come On Get Up". When they didn't release that as a single I knew somebody in the camp (probably the label) were slipping. That was probably the easiest hit on the whole record outside of the first single.

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Now, I do disagree with you on two songs though. SloLove was another easy dance hit to me for "Damia Jo". I think Cathy Dennis' songwriting and BAG & Arnthor's production was a nice combination. "Island Life" showed some nice vocals from her, although the song sounded slightly dated. But yes, those unreleased tracks like, "What Can I Say?" "Clap Your Hands" should have made the cut...EASY.

"So Excited" was the first time I can remember that I was actually mad at Janet. That song had no business leaving the studio, much less making the album. My biggest gripe was her vocals (especially on the verses). I've always said that that song is like somebody telling Barry White to try to sound sexy. Really? Janet's sexuality or sensuality shine best when she's natural. Anything else comes off too contrived or "over the top" because she's already sensual and sexy. IMHO, The best job JD did with his ex-girlfriend was because he relied heavily on a sample in "Rock With U", plus Ne-yo wrote that.

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Let's hope that this next go 'round, Janet will bring her best! Her legacy at one point was intentionally being omitted from pop culture. Releasing sub-par albums since then hasn't helped. Now is the perfect time to re-establish herself in the hearts and minds of a new generation of listeners and remind the previous one of who the hell she is. I know in reality her legacy and influence is already set in stone, if she never sang another note or wrote another lyric. But for some reason I can't see her settling for less. I get the feeling she's hungry again a la the time before "Control" and the making of "RN1814".

SEANMAN said:

Musicslave said:

This was probably my favorite song after all was said and done...

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A freakin ballad. I was shocked too. Her performance was heartfelt.

Probably my favorite Janet ballad. Everything about this track is magic. It could have easily been a single. Hell, every song on RN either was or could have been a single!

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Yeah, that was my favorite on RN maybe in her catalog too. Usually I'm a sucker for a great, funky dance track with a good melody but not this time.

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True!

This album was perfection. The arrangements, lyrics, the way each track flowed one after the next. I played this cd to death!!!

Musicslave said:

alphastreet said:

Well, there weren't times she still used them with additional producers besides Rene and people were starting to not feel her including long time fans, and the cohesiveness of her albums were never the same since though I think Discipline was a fine and underrated effort going in the right direction again [Edited 11/2/13 14:39pm]

-

Yeah, although I agree with NP about Jam & Lewis. I do also think she could include new blood into their well proven mix though. I don't fault her for wanting to branch out and try new things and work with new people. However, time (so far) has proven that she's at her best when those guys are deeply involved in the overall vision for the project. They're just family at this point.

-

For instance, they were involved with 20 y.o. but that was Jermaine Dupri's dream job. From what I understand he pretty much limited their judgment about the songs they worked on. This is why I don't consider 20YO a real Janet record. "Enjoy" and "Take Care" were both beautiful because they had no fingerprints of JD on them. Hell, even the Avila Brothers can do Janet better than most of the average new cats.

-

"Damita Jo" was a solid effort as quiet as it's kept. I feel this record is the prototype for her comeback. Jam & Lewis was at the helm but they also brought in BAG & Arnthor to divisify and switch things up a bit. I thought this worked well. Not to mention Dallas Austin and Kanye West. I emphasized BAG & Arnthor because their tracks stood out for me as far as tracks not produced by Jam & Lewis. "SloLove" was a single dying to be released. Too bad everybody jumped ship with this project.

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[Edited 11/4/13 7:54am]

All fair ponts.

Hands dowm her best CD IMO. Every track is great on there.

Today is LOVE WILL NEVER DO (WITHOUT YOU)'s anniversary. It was the song that made Janet the only artist to have 7 top 5 singles from a single album and # 1s from one album in three separate calendar years

Mos. DEF. one of the most influential albums of my entire life! It was always so exciting to see her videos, and every time u turned on the radio, there she WUZZ! My personal favorite..."The Knowledge!" BANGIN'! The pairing with Flyte Tyme was the best thing that ever happened in her career. Sad that it had 2 end.