 |
| |
|
| |
Album Review
by Joe Doe
30-3-2004
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Janet Jackson: all about music, no doubt |
|
Miscellaneous: 'Tiny 3'
(Various)
Usher, Janet Jackson, Anastacia
Usher
‘Confessions’
(Arista)
The Grammy award-winning R’n’B singer is back with his fifth album to date and it dominates the charts, as does his single ‘Yeah’ [featuring Ludacris and Lil’ Jon]. ‘Confessions’ presents more personal side to Usher that has been underexposed on his previous albums, handled by the production team that reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the urban scene - Jermaine Dupri, R. Kelly, and the originators, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
If you are fan - ‘Confessions’ delivers, if you happen not to care - no change.
7/10
www.usher.com
~
Janet Jackson
‘Damita Jo’
(Virgin)
Michael Jackson’s little sister Janet, despite ‘Damita Jo’ being her eight album, will be remembered for one of the five decent singles she released. Unless that boob-exposure ends up being her contribution to ‘culture’, which would be unjust. Still, ‘Damita Jo’ is a laboured, calculated and tailored music that lasts over 22 tracks - excessive by rap-standards, even. Even the hottest producer Kayne West can’t squeeze much out of ‘I Want You’.
Ghastly album but she stages great shows.
6/10
www.janetjackson.com
~
Anastacia
‘Anastacia’
(Epic)
After a year of fighting the ‘Big C’, Anastacia returns with an album that is so huge, musically, thematically and vocally that frightened the daylight of the reviewer when exposed to it in the headphonic isolation. She belts over tracks that are Urban in Lenny Kravitz’s style, rock-based but with soulful and funky seasoning. At other times recalling Sheryl Crow on speed, then power-poppy until she unleashes the operatic-reaching stadium-sized ‘Heavy on my Heart’.
She also ain't an ocular offender…
7.7/10
www.anastacia.com
~
A bit of advice: if you really are looking for some traditional soulful value you could do much worse than the recently released Al Green’s comeback album, ‘I Can’t Stop’ (Blue Note).
Joe Doe
30-3-2004
Usher’s ‘Confessions’, Janet Jackson’s ‘Damita Jo’, Anastacia’s 'Anastacia' and Al Green’s ‘I Can’t Stop’ are available now on Artista, Virgin, Epic and Blue Note respectively.
|
|
|
