Does anybody else have a problem with the way Janet's voice is produced/mixed here? Her singing sounds very strange and kind of "ugly" to me. It's deeper, nasally, and has a MUCH heavier vibrato than i can ever recall her using on other cds. There's also this weird hiccup/grunt noise at the end of some of her sentences that makes it sound like she's clearing flem out of her throat in between verses. lol

I hate to be harsh, but, I paid money for this album and I want to enjoy it! It's honestly a hindrance to sit through because of how bad it sounds to me.

She sounds like a deflating balloon produced by Jam & Lewis.

JanFan said:

Unbreakable displays some of Janet's best vocals since arguably Rhythm Nation. If you wanna criticize her vocals, Damita Jo, 20 Y.O.,and Discipline warrant that considering how she basically whispered on those. Unbreakable represents a return to form not only musically, but vocally. The only songs I'm not crazy about her vocals on are BURNITUP! and Dammn Baby. I feel that although I love those songs, they're a little overproduced. The production drowns out her vocals. But I think that was purposely done for those songs. And her voice is deeper because she's 50. I don't know what you're expecting in that department. Every artist's singing voice deepens as they age. It's inevitable. [Edited 7/6/16 8:03am] [Edited 7/6/16 8:04am] [Edited 7/6/16 8:06am]

i agree. also she dont even sound the same on every song so i dont know what the op is talking about.

zebz said:

Oh good grief

Just because someone offers a crtique on someones vocals doesn't mean their bashing. OP is a Janet fan but anyway Janet vocals are great on the album. Can you point out a song you are referring too?

I probably shouldnt say it, but she sounds like MJ to me on the Unbreakable album...or like that was what they were going for.

UncleJam said:

I probably shouldnt say it, but she sounds like MJ to me on the Unbreakable album...or like that was what they were going for.

I thought that too when I listened to the album. Its not a bad thing. I thought it was cool they were giving a nod to his style of singing. To me, the entire album felt like a tribute to her family and their musical contributions.

UncleJam said:

I probably shouldnt say it, but she sounds like MJ to me on the Unbreakable album...or like that was what they were going for.

Yeah, this is what I was THINKING. lol but I didn't want to make my post about that. Definitely got that vibe tho...

mjscarousal said:

Oh good grief

Just because someone offers a crtique on someones vocals doesn't mean their bashing. OP is a Janet fan but anyway Janet vocals are great on the album. Can you point out a song you are referring too?

After You Fall is one example. At least on the heavy vibrato. And Shoulda Known Better on that grunt noise, particulary around the 40 second mark/before the music kicks in.

[Edited 7/7/16 0:40am]

JanFan said:

Unbreakable displays some of Janet's best vocals since arguably Rhythm Nation. If you wanna criticize her vocals, Damita Jo, 20 Y.O.,and Discipline warrant that considering how she basically whispered on those. Unbreakable represents a return to form not only musically, but vocally. The only songs I'm not crazy about her vocals on are BURNITUP! and Dammn Baby. I feel that although I love those songs, they're a little overproduced. The production drowns out her vocals. But I think that was purposely done for those songs. And her voice is deeper because she's 50. I don't know what you're expecting in that department. Every artist's singing voice deepens as they age. It's inevitable.

I know that but my thing with her voice sounding deeper is that it sounds INTENTIONAL instead of natrual. Which is why i'm criticizing it.

[Edited 7/7/16 1:31am]

zebz said:

Does anybody else have a problem with the way Janet's voice is produced/mixed here? Her singing sounds very strange and kind of "ugly" to me. It's deeper, nasally, and has a MUCH heavier vibrato than i can ever recall her using on other cds. There's also this weird hiccup/grunt noise at the end of some of her sentences that makes it sound like she's clearing flem out of her throat in between verses. lol

I hate to be harsh, but, I paid money for this album and I want to enjoy it! It's honestly a hindrance to sit through because of how bad it sounds to me.

I totally agree with you 110% my friend. And let me state for the record that this is not bashing Janet Jackson in any way. This is facts. I don't know if it's due to one rhinoplasty too many or what-have-you but Janet does not sound good on this album at all. She doesn't even sound like Janet Jackson! Listening to Unbreakable for the first time, I was actually disappointed in the way her voice sounded. Now we can argue on her other albums that she sounds fine (i.e. Rhythm Nation, Janet, All For You) but this album brought to light some harsh realities and that's Janet just doesn't have it like she used to. I really tried to get into Unbreakable but I couldn't. For one thing, Janet dropped the ball on this entire project. Plain and simple. I will say what a lot of people are maybe too afraid to say but Janet pretty much shitted on everyone who supported her. No press and no interviews. Very little radio play. The tour was a complete and utter disaster. This was supposed to be her comeback album and everything about this was horrible. Now she is supposedly pregnant and I'm supposed to just jump for joy. No... lets call it like it is. Unbreakable broke Janet Jackson's career.

zebz said:

JanFan said:

Unbreakable displays some of Janet's best vocals since arguably Rhythm Nation. If you wanna criticize her vocals, Damita Jo, 20 Y.O.,and Discipline warrant that considering how she basically whispered on those. Unbreakable represents a return to form not only musically, but vocally. The only songs I'm not crazy about her vocals on are BURNITUP! and Dammn Baby. I feel that although I love those songs, they're a little overproduced. The production drowns out her vocals. But I think that was purposely done for those songs. And her voice is deeper because she's 50. I don't know what you're expecting in that department. Every artist's singing voice deepens as they age. It's inevitable.

I know that but my thing with her voice sounding deeper is that it sounds INTENTIONAL instead of natrual. Which is why i'm criticizing it.

[Edited 7/7/16 1:31am]

it is intentional. Even Jimmy jam and Terry lewis said on their twitter that tracks like The Great Forever Janet was channeling her brother. As well they also noted that Gon B Alright Janet is doing the 'male voice' after hers. It is intentionally slowed down to sound like that. As well. Damn Baby she used a vocoder and so is Abernathy. Not sure why the hangup on that one when it is intentionally sung in this fashion comparable to other songs where you can hear her clearly..and not through a vocoder. Its supposed to be experimental, weird and a little futuristic. Get in2 it.

thesoulbrother said:

zebz said:

Does anybody else have a problem with the way Janet's voice is produced/mixed here? Her singing sounds very strange and kind of "ugly" to me. It's deeper, nasally, and has a MUCH heavier vibrato than i can ever recall her using on other cds. There's also this weird hiccup/grunt noise at the end of some of her sentences that makes it sound like she's clearing flem out of her throat in between verses. lol

I hate to be harsh, but, I paid money for this album and I want to enjoy it! It's honestly a hindrance to sit through because of how bad it sounds to me.

I totally agree with you 110% my friend. And let me state for the record that this is not bashing Janet Jackson in any way. This is facts. I don't know if it's due to one rhinoplasty too many or what-have-you but Janet does not sound good on this album at all. She doesn't even sound like Janet Jackson! Listening to Unbreakable for the first time, I was actually disappointed in the way her voice sounded. Now we can argue on her other albums that she sounds fine (i.e. Rhythm Nation, Janet, All For You) but this album brought to light some harsh realities and that's Janet just doesn't have it like she used to. I really tried to get into Unbreakable but I couldn't. For one thing, Janet dropped the ball on this entire project. Plain and simple. I will say what a lot of people are maybe too afraid to say but Janet pretty much shitted on everyone who supported her. No press and no interviews. Very little radio play. The tour was a complete and utter disaster. This was supposed to be her comeback album and everything about this was horrible. Now she is supposedly pregnant and I'm supposed to just jump for joy. No... lets call it like it is. Unbreakable broke Janet Jackson's career.

I wouldn't necessarily say she has "lost it" but she seems to not have an interest in her music career anymore or where it goes and I personally think this is due to multiple reasons... i.e. corrupt industry and her lack of confidence. She seems to have this "laxyadaisy attitude" about her career and doesn't seem as "fully in control and confident" with every aspect as she was during her peak.

...sound like shit.

For ME, the album is aMAZING, as are the vocals. The ONE THING I'm absolutely LOVING is how she enunciates the soft "t's" in the verses of "No Sleeep" (...each time we meet, we ain't gonna get no sleeep.") Very sexy/kitteny. Not 2 mention, the "ah's" at the end of each last word of each line.

whitechocolatebrotha said:

For ME, the album is aMAZING, as are the vocals. The ONE THING I'm absolutely LOVING is how she enunciates the soft "t's" in the verses of "No Sleeep" (...each time we meet, we ain't gonna get no sleeep.") Very sexy/kitteny. Not 2 mention, the "ah's" at the end of each last word of each line.

i loving what cha doing to me-ah

And I dont wanna do without it-tah!

but ALL her vocals r unlistenable...

i agree with the OP, but actually enjoy the effect. she sounds older, and the vocals seem pushed out front, warts and all. It's refreshing, and conveys the heart and personality she wasn't able to get across in the videos / visual aspect of the album.

I have not heard unbreakable but are her vocals deeper than her Classic hit Love will never do (without you)? I Love her deep vocals on that track..

(Correction...The OP is talking about the entire CD...I Loved "No Sleeep" the first time I heard it on the radio last year and her vocals are on-point and she sounds like the younger version of herself...I don't have the Album so maybe the OP is talking about a specific song)

[Edited 7/14/16 2:37am]

Chancellor said:

I have not heard unbreakable but are her vocals deeper than her Classic hit Love will never do (without you)? I Love her deep vocals on that track..

(Correction...The OP is talking about the entire CD...I Loved "No Sleeep" the first time I heard it on the radio last year and her vocals are on-point and she sounds like the younger version of herself...I don't have the Album so maybe the OP is talking about a specific song)

[Edited 7/14/16 2:37am]

especially in the second verse

It took some getting used to for me. I hear cigs, I hear age, I hear Melodyne, I hear a shit-ton of stacks and limiting... so it's different than the past, but with that said the songs are pretty great and eventually won me over regardless. But I'd be lying if I said the vocals weren't a problem for me at some point with this record. I came to love it though.

alphastreet said:

Cigs? Lol so does Janet really do cigars? I have heard that

after all she been through I would hope she fired up the hookah couple times

paisleypark4 said:

funksterr said:

It took some getting used to for me. I hear cigs, I hear age, I hear Melodyne, I hear a shit-ton of stacks and limiting... so it's different than the past, but with that said the songs are pretty great and eventually won me over regardless. But I'd be lying if I said the vocals weren't a problem for me at some point with this record. I came to love it though.

It's different, no doubt. But it was all deliberate, especially the vocals giving tribute to Michael. I really love a lot of songs from this album. If this were to be Janet's last one, I think it would be a great one to go out on. And I highly enjoyed the concert I went to. But, I understand people's distress, anger, and disappointments over the cancelled tour. Glad I had a chance to go.