Mariah is still a potent force in music, and her singing voice has lost none of its luster. Why she chooses to misspend her time by releasing one sub-standard song after another (aimed at the youth market) is baffling.

SoulAlive said:

Mariah is a very talented artist,but she keeps wasting her talent on weak,lackluster material she needs to stay away from these trendy sounds and try a more soulful,organic sound.Her voice deserves that.

Agreed but that in itself may be the problem. She may not physically have the voice to sing those soulful, organic tunes anymore. Or at least she may not be able to do it effortlessly like she did when she was younger. Neverthless, singing is a vocal skill as much as it is talent, so maybe she needs to work on vocal lessons to regain the strength in her vocal chords and not rely so much on whsierping tones.

728huey said:

SoulAlive said:

Mariah is a very talented artist,but she keeps wasting her talent on weak,lackluster material she needs to stay away from these trendy sounds and try a more soulful,organic sound.Her voice deserves that.

Agreed but that in itself may be the problem. She may not physically have the voice to sing those soulful, organic tunes anymore. Or at least she may not be able to do it effortlessly like she did when she was younger. Neverthless, singing is a vocal skill as much as it is talent, so maybe she needs to work on vocal lessons to regain the strength in her vocal chords and not rely so much on whispering tones.

You Don't Know What To Do sounds like a nice little summer jam. The Wale feature seems a bit unnecessary and out of place, though. Maybe it makes more sense in the context of the album, or maybe there will be a Wale-free version. No lip synching on Touch My Body, too.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

You Don't Know What To Do sounds like a nice little summer jam. The Wale feature seems a bit unnecessary and out of place, though. Maybe it makes more sense in the context of the album, or maybe there will be a Wale-free version. No lip synching on Touch My Body, too.

Exactly, what you said right there describes her last what 15-20 years of work, great track but that __________ (insert rapper) sounds unnecessary. If everyone else gets it and her "lambs" get it how come she doesnt get it? Are the singles not making a dent in the charts not even a message to her.

lastdecember said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

You Don't Know What To Do sounds like a nice little summer jam. The Wale feature seems a bit unnecessary and out of place, though. Maybe it makes more sense in the context of the album, or maybe there will be a Wale-free version. No lip synching on Touch My Body, too.

Exactly, what you said right there describes her last what 15-20 years of work, great track but that __________ (insert rapper) sounds unnecessary. If everyone else gets it and her "lambs" get it how come she doesnt get it? Are the singles not making a dent in the charts not even a message to her.

I think she's confused, though. It's not just the rapper featured songs that are flopping. I Wanna Know What Love Is, H.A.T.E.U., Art Of Letting Go, and You're Mine (Eternal) all flopped, too. At this point, she's probably just like, "Fuck it. I'mma do me."

alot of these songs are just not good at all, rappers or not. The albums have been very predictable, the singles and videos just very forced and she needs a new team and outlook.

kitbradley said:

Oh, Mimi. While "Thirsty" is barely a step above the song with Rick Ross, it's still something I would expect to hear from a young girl just starting out. I fear this is going to turn out to be her worst album yet. Maybe she will take a few years off after she drops this album. The poor thing is just musically lost and confused. Her musical career is in dire need of a major make-over.

It's been 5 years since she made Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Please don't suggest she needs more time to figure this out.

Cinny said:

kitbradley said:

Oh, Mimi. While "Thirsty" is barely a step above the song with Rick Ross, it's still something I would expect to hear from a young girl just starting out. I fear this is going to turn out to be her worst album yet. Maybe she will take a few years off after she drops this album. The poor thing is just musically lost and confused. Her musical career is in dire need of a major make-over.

It's been 5 years since she made Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Please don't suggest she needs more time to figure this out.

She knows what she's doing. I think she's just churning out crappy music on purpose. In between "Memoirs" and the upcoming album, we got 2010's "Merry Christmas II You", where, vocally, she soared! It was the old Mariah from the early 90's. So we know she can still sing out loud and strong when she has to. But, when she's doing contemporary music, she's not required to put in much effort. Why should she? Hardly anyone else does.

kitbradley said:

Cinny said:

It's been 5 years since she made Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Please don't suggest she needs more time to figure this out.

She knows what she's doing. I think she's just churning out crappy music on purpose. In between "Memoirs" and the upcoming album, we got 2010's "Merry Christmas II You", where, vocally, she soared! It was the old Mariah from the early 90's. So we know she can still sing out loud and strong when she has to. But, when she's doing contemporary music, she's not required to put in much effort. Why should she? Hardly anyone else does.

Her fans only get to hear her sound nice for Christmas.

Video

[Edited 5/25/14 11:53am]

Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse

kitbradley said:

Cinny said:

It's been 5 years since she made Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Please don't suggest she needs more time to figure this out.

She knows what she's doing. I think she's just churning out crappy music on purpose. In between "Memoirs" and the upcoming album, we got 2010's "Merry Christmas II You", where, vocally, she soared! It was the old Mariah from the early 90's. So we know she can still sing out loud and strong when she has to. But, when she's doing contemporary music, she's not required to put in much effort. Why should she? Hardly anyone else does.

I would LOVE 2c her get with The Neptunes or someone who will be able to literally YANK HER out of the formulaic crapola she's been generating and put her in a dif'rent place where she'll be able 2 stretch out and get her step back on. She seems 2b a little "stuck" in the Old School sounds that simply aren't selling (much) anymore e.g. Ledisi, Jennifer Hudson. It's sad because Mariah as well as the aforementioned two are REAL vocalists. Hope she does well, but time will tell.

The new album is now streaming in full over at iTunes Radio.

First impressions...

1. Cry - Nice soul ballad, giving me sort of a "Vanishing"/"Outside" vibe. This sounds like classic Mariah. Interesting way to start the album. Sounds like it should be ending the record. Her runs at the end sound like she's trying some new things, vocally, which is great!
2. Faded - Another slow record with a current Mike Will Made It R&B sound. Kind of puts me in a "The One" sort of mood.
3. Dedicated - Is that Nas actually singing with her? This one is a midtempo R&B burner. Early favorite. I don't mind Mariah going for a hip hop sound when it sounds honest. I think this does.
4. Beautiful - I've liked this since the first time I heard it like...a year ago? It sounds like it's been tweaked a bit mixwise.
5. Thirsty - I don't hate this song, though I do hate it as the supposed lead single. When singles flop do they suddenly become "buzz tracks?" Because we're 4 singles in already according to what's been released, yet this is the lead single? I'm scared for her to make a video for this one. There's no way she'll get it right.
6. Make It Look Good - LOVE this one. It's like an old soul song but with modern production values. The production is crazy! It's occurring to me as I listen to this song that she's really in fine voice on this record. This one also gives me a "It's A Wrap" vibe.
7. You're Mine (Eternal) - Kind of a poor man's "We Belong Together," which she already attempted like 4 times on E=MC². It's a very nice album track but another poor single choice.
8. You Don't Know What To Do - Great intro that is totally ruined by Wale's background yammering. His presence in general is puzzling on this track. I hope they release a version without him because I love it for a summer jam with about 3/4 less of Wale. Kind of an "All My Life" vibe to it.
9. Supernatural - Opens with the sounds of her babies cooing, which continues in the background throughout the song. I don't want to sound like a dick but it's kind of distracting and creepy to me. Maybe because of how they keep looping them? I feel like it won't get many plays from me for that reason. Nice vocal work and production.
10. Meteorite - Love this! Kind of gives me a loungy, 90s house vibe. Love that soulful male falsetto voice lingering in the background.
11. Camouflage - Nice piano ballad with classic Mariah vocal layering, and what appear to be very personal lyrics. I will say it's concerning when she overdoes the studio trickery with her vocals. Let's just say there's no way she'll be performing this live.
12. Money - Was missing my from my iTunes radio stream?
13. One More Try - George Michael classic, set to a slow, old school hip hop beat (808?). It's good for her range, and a fairly decent cover. However, I'm not sure I love the liberties she's taken with the melody. I know she's Mariah and oversinging is her thing, but this song doesn't need all that.
14. Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can't Give Up Now) - Opens with a sermon by George Clinton? "I don't believe He's brought me this far to leave me." I like that line. This kind of reminds me of "100%" and maybe another song that I can't think of. Cool old school hip hop beat thumping in the background. Some more studio trickery overkill towards the end, with splicing of takes and what not. Obligatory gospel chorus at the end.

I think this is a pretty solid record! I don't love every second of it but I definitely like most of it. I don't hear any big singles, which isn't surprising considering the fate of those we've already heard. Maybe those days are over and that's ok. B+ from me.

[Edited 5/19/14 22:14pm]

Honestly, the album is as horrible as I thought it was going to be. It has got to be her worst.

Now, instead of trying to make inferior updated versions of "Butterfly" she's created an inferior "Rainbow": A collection of 'hitmaking' producers (Rodney Jerkins?) phoning in their tracks mixed in with dry midtempos and an unimpressive vocal performance.

There's not even a good bop to be found here! Even two of the most popular urban producers of the day - Hit-Boy and Mike-Will-Made-It - gave her tracks that are, at best, mediocre and, at worst, left no impact whatsoever. "Faded" was a strange song - it just didn't mesh with her, IMO...

Repetitive melodies and surprisingly lackluster production throughout. Good luck to her, because this ain't it.

[Edited 5/20/14 8:02am]

jillybean said:

Thanks for the review, Schlomo!! Loved it when you said there's no way she'll get the Thirsty video right! Can't wait to hear "Make It Look Good." I just LOVE "It's A Wrap."Off to listen. Thanks again!

Sure thing! If you get a sec, post your first impressions. I'm interested in reading them.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

13. One More Try - George Michael classic, set to a slow, old school hip hop beat (808?). It's good for her range, and a fairly decent cover. However, I'm not sure I love the liberties she's taken with the melody. I know she's Mariah and oversinging is her thing, but this song doesn't need all that.

One thing i dont get with labels is WHY have street dates anymore if you are going to stream an album? Case in point the new "Coldplay" was streamed 10 days ago and has been all over the net for download for over 2 weeks now? Mariah now for two days at least has been all over net for download. Ironicially R.E.M who arent even a band anymore pushed up their street date on their "Unplugged 91-2001" double cd to a monday because it started to leak over the weekend. Labels are just plain stupid to leak shit over itunes or amazon, there is TONS of free software on the net to get to download leaks and break through any security. Dumb Dumb Dumb. As for Mariah, just listening now about half way through, fair album def better than anything in the last decade for her, but she should have killed those OLD songs off this cd, like the one with Miguel etc...waste. And since i mentioned the Coldplay cd, time for this band to call it a day, a few songs are ok, but the beats and all that shit, what the hell happend to the "band".

lastdecember said:

she should have killed those OLD songs off this cd, like the one with Miguel etc...waste.

I can't believe you are saying that. But I really like that song. I thought her album should have been launched off of that Beautiful hit.

Dedicated is the fucking CUT!!!

I'm trying to decide whether I'm going to listen to the stream on i-tunes or wait until the CD drops next week? I've read some pretty glowing reviews thus far.

http://www.billboard.com/...ack-review

Mariah Carey, 'Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse': Track-by-Track Review

In the nearly five years since Mariah Carey's last proper studio album, the singer has given birth to twins, served a stint on "American Idol," and reaffirmed her acting skills with a couple of films thankfully not called "Glitter II." She's also logged a ton of studio hours, and this, her 14th full-length, arrives after some three years of recording, numerous delays and at least one unintentionally hilarious discarded title, "The Art of Letting Go."

Because Mariah can always be counted on for crazy brilliance or just plain craziness, anticipation has been mounting for months, and that wacky title — lifted from a self-portrait the singer painted when she was three years old — has only added to the buzz. What does this 40-something mega-rich mommy with the seemingly perfect life have to say for herself?

The usual, more or less. Musically, it’s her typical mix of pop-classicist balladry and hip-hop-tinged summer jamming, and if Carey doesn’t exactly go strutting into new territory, it’s because she knows most people like her right where she is.

Read on to get our initial track-by-track take on this welcome comeback from one of music’s most talented eccentrics.

"Cry": Easing into her comeback, Mariah opens with a big ol' piano ballad. She wants to hold her lover until they both start bawling, and while that's hardly the sentiment you want to hear at the start of an album—particularly one released on the eve of beach season—it's probably the record's heaviest moment.

"Faded": Listen closely, and there are lots of Mariahs on this track. Some do percussive "oh" and "eh" scatting, while at least one goes into that super high glass-shatter register that Carey has been wowing the world with since her very first single. Can any of them solve the romantic quandary driving the lyrics? Probably not, but at least Mike Will Made It gives the chorus of Careys a cool beat to sing over.

"Dedicated": This is straight-up nostalgia – as Mariah and guest Nas discuss in the intro and amid references to Heavy D, Slick Rick, the Wu-Tang Clan, and Run-D.M.C., the singer looks back on both the records and the romances that have shaped her life. While much of the world is stuck back in the '90s, she and Nas are chilling in '88 and having a ball.

"Beautiful": Mariah's always had a thing for the bad boys, and here, Miguel stars as the red-light-running biker dude who gets her motor going. They both tell each other that beauty is the thing driving their infatuation, and thanks to a retro-futuristic soul backing, the superficiality comes off as kind of sexy. It's like a modern "Stand by Me," only these two can't stand still.

"Thirsty": Backed by Hit-Boy's sparse, spacey hip-hop beat, Mariah dresses down a celeb-whore paramour who only wants to piggyback on her fame. After four songs about love, heartbreak and nostalgia, it's nice to here our girl get a little feisty.

"Make It Look Good": Sometimes, you know you're getting played, but you decide to just go with it. That's what Mimi does here, and as she lets loose over what sounds like a skipping '80s-era Stevie Wonder record, it's clear she's willing to let this no-good lip-licking Romeo take her for the proverbial ride. Her laugh at the end shows how silly it's meant to be.

"Your Mine (Eternal)": With its simple piano lick, longing lyrics and skittering, minimal beat, the disc's third single harks back to "We Belong Together." Once again, Mariah admits she's powerless in the face of love. There's some of her mega-high-pitched singing toward the end of the track, but this one works because of a simple hook and sentiment. No gymnastics required.

"You Don't Know What to Do": The album's first real chance to dance finds Carey and Wale in the disco, bumping butts like it's 1977. The string sounds are right out of Chic's "Good Times," and the only thing missing is a Nile Rodgers cameo. (Yeah, the guy's busy these days, but she had three years to book it.)

"Supernatural": So begins the recording careers of "Dembabies," aka Mariah and husband Nick Cannon's fraternal twins, Monroe and Moroccan. "Got me lost in the clouds," she sings. "Slowly, keep me here always / You're the only thing that's true." The kiddies bring plenty of A-1 giggle game, making this sappy cut feel pretty damn cute.

"Meteorite": Having professed her love for the twins, Carey hires a sitter and heads back to the club. This time, it's Q-Tip providing the disco beat, and as Mariah gets down, she offers up some commentary on celebrity culture, comparing a female star — perhaps herself — to the titular bit of flaming space rock. If she's talking about crashing and burning, she makes it sound pretty hot.

"Camouflage": For all her vocal skill, Mariah can't sell every earnest piano ballad, and this one simply falls flat. The lyrics are stock and the melody doesn't stick, and if anything, it's a breather between the preceding smooth groover and the absolute banger waiting on deck.

"Money": Every R&B album needs a "money don't mean nothing" jam, and here, Mariah and Fabolous get anti-materialistic over a thumping Hit-Boy beat. How strong is this love Mariah and Fab are singing about? It evidently trumps "holidays" and "hollandaise," and that's saying something, 'cause eggs Benny is mad delicious.

"One More Try": On her last album, Mariah covered Foreigner. She shows much better '80s taste with this update of George Michael's "One More Try." The production borders on schmaltzy, but at least this Long Island girl didn't go the Journey route or—worse yet—show some tri-state love with a Bon Jovi remake.

"Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can't Give Up Now)": With a full choir on board, Mariah gets behind the wheel of a gospel tour bus and floors it toward salvation. It's even schmaltzier than the George Michael cover, but hey, middle school glee clubs need songs to sing at graduation, so this thing serves at least one purpose.

119 said:

lastdecember said:

lets face it that BEYONCE album lost its "steam" of being what everyone was talking about, about 2 weeks later if even, yeah it sold, but its long forgotten, as will Mariahs new album.

That's what is so crazy to me about this strategy, as illustrated by Beyonce. I haven't heard one word about the actual music on the album - just the distribution method.

What is the point of an album without good music?

Blame that on Jay-Z....I wouldn't be surprised if he was focused so much on the "element of surprise" that the actual music hasn't really made an impact. Both of them need to take a long vacation because the conversations about these two is getting to be too much

kitbradley said:

kewlschool said:

You do realize that all the sales numbers have been messed with to make them look larger than they are? For instance views on youtube count. Plus, the record label has computers set to automatically view and review videos on line to increase sales. Not to mention the record company buy the albums themselves and then resell them to increase sales numbers. They do this for all the "important" artists.

Record sales numbers have always been suspect but I trust them more after the Soundscan system was implemented. Prior to that, the labels were just making them up and throwing numbers out there for the "important" artists. A lot of the "unimportant" ones got jipped big-time!

I agree with you about the phony numbers from the record companies. I still think they do that, even with Soundscan. I am certain that record companies lie about their numbers just for promotional value.

Meteorite ---- SLAYS and the Q TIP VERSION love them both.... now it needs a David Morales resung vocals remix....

The temptation to listen to the album now is enormous, but I'm attempting to wait until Tue, the release date.

I was going thru the Sunday sales papers today and neither Target (which will include one bonus track) nor Best Buy had it listed for a Tuesday release. I'm looking online and all of the sites are still saying May 27 so I'm wondering what's going on with the promo and advertising?