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Album Review
by SashaS
27-11-2002
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| J-Lo now, before becoming Mrs Affleck |
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‘Diva’ (x4): '‘This Is … Then’'
(Various)
J-Lo, Whitney, Toni, Mariah’s CDs
It seems that the end of November/beginning of December has become a fertile ground for Divas to release their albums. First on the list is Jennifer Lopez with ‘This Is Me… Then’, an album that seems to be concerned with two topics: how ordinary and like the rest of us she is and her love for Ben Affleck. The first claim is comic if the stories one hears about her are to be believed: sixty suitcases for a weekend-away (and we mean – trunk-sizes), fifty-plus person entourage (for a romantic evening) and all-white dressing rooms…
Well, that might be the norm in her Brooklyn ‘hood but it ain’t in Wimbledon, where I happen to be holed up… Then, love and more love for her new beau – she’s to marry him as soon as the last marriage is over for this serial-divorcee… But, the cover tells the whole story – she’s selling her album on her looks and not quality of music. Wouldn’t it be better if her CD was mounted on a foldout full-size poster, methinks – it would sell like baubles at Christmas! (5/10)
Whitney Houston is another diva with a whole bandwagon of issues, whether her own ‘illegal substances’, erratic behaviour or a marriage that was apparently forged in a hell’s anteroom. After several years out in a private prob-land, the Pop mistress returns with a collection of songs, ‘Just Whitney…’ – its title indicates simplicity and directness but also implies difficulty – co-produced by her errant husband Bobby Brown that proves she does it the best. Be it pop songs, R&B or her trademark balladry, the woman still knows how to deliver it big time.
(7/10)
It is interesting to notice that covers for J-Lo and Whitney present each woman looking beyond the lens, at the disc’s holder, still teasing with temptation and impudence of sex-kittens (they used to be) – proving that women in showbiz have to look young, be extremely fit and stay highly desirable. Toni Braxton’s artwork goes for a more demure pose with her body turned away with over-shoulder-smiling-face acknowledging you with a minimum fodder for dreaming. But, the music on ‘More Than A Woman’ – what does it mean? mother/goddess? or an alien? – suffers not and she adds to Braxton legacy proudly, again. Do all women really want to be parents primarily and everything else becomes secondary? No, not quality-wise but in its importance… Long-standing fans will find a lot to be cheerful here… ((7/10)
The year of trouble for Mariah Carey appears to be over: the disasters that were film and album ‘Glitter’, emo-breakdown/hospitalisation, plus 20-million-squid ‘firing’ from EMI seems to be behind her and she is back with ‘Charmbracelet’ on her third label. This is a return-to-‘classic’-sounding Carey album and if she were on your dig-list before, everything is in order, ostensibly. What bugs my snobby arse is that Ice Cube is guesting on a track – a scoop for her, no doubt – but what does this do for the ex-NWA vanguard’s reputation? (4/10)
SashaS
27-11-2002
Jennifer Lopez’s album ‘This Is Me… Then’ is released 25 Nov. 02 on Sony
Whitney Houston’s disc ‘Just Whitney…’ is released 25 Nov. 2002 on Arista
Toni Braxton’s CD ‘More Than A Woman’ is available now on Arista
Mariah Carey’s album ‘Charmbracelet’ is released 02 Dec. 2002 on Mercury
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