I was listening to Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation Of Mimi and enjoying myself thoroughly when I thought I need to write about this so that those who have never heard this album or Mariah Carey need to discover her music and enjoy it for themselves. Before this album Mariah Carey was on a downward spiral with no hits in her kitty and her personal life grabbing the headlines and it looked like one of the most powerful vocalists in the history of music was down and out for good. The lesson learnt from The Emancipation Of Mimi is that never write Mariah Carey off. Here is an entertainer who knows what it is to deliver the hits and to if necessary reinvent herself and to move on with the times. With that Mariah Carey who has the range from pop, ballads, R&B, hip hop to even gospel music is back on the top of the charts where she has spent a good decade and more.
The Emancipation Of Mimi scored on two fronts when it released. It was a commercial success propelling Mariah Carey back to the top of the charts, but more importantly it was critically applauded too, which was a long time coming for Mariah Carey who was constantly getting panned by the critics of late especially during the Glitter and the Charmbracelet phases of her career. Now all that has ended with The Emancipation Of Mimi and it’s successful follow-up E=MC2.
Let me state at the very outset that Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation Of Mimi is a must buy and deserves a place in every music collection. Even if you are not a Mariah Carey fan, this album should still be in your music collection since its simply great music. Mariah Carey has reinvented herself on The Emancipation Of Mimi with even new sounds and the result is a great album that’s totally successful mainstream hip-hop in a great package with Mariah Carey’s awesome vocals. BTW the album won a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary R&B Album” in 2006.
The album kicks off with “It’s Like That” a good fast paced hip-hop number that just takes off and it immediately tells you that this album is going to be different. The sounds on it are edgier, racier, sharp, and draw attention. The next track "We Belong Together" is the pick of the lot and it enjoyed immense chart success with 14 weeks at the top of the charts, “To The Floor” which features Nelly is pure hip-hop fun which will force you to shake a leg. BTW collaboration is a major strength with the album with heavyweights like Kanye West, Jermaine Dupri, Nelly, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Pharrell Williams, etc. gracing the album. However, it’s the pop ballad “We Belong Together” that is the pick of the album and really sets the pace for the entire album. One thing for sure is that The Emancipation Of Mimi does not have any filler numbers or tracks. All the songs are great and I am sure each listener will have his or her own favorite. “Shake It Off” is groovy and will win fans. “Mine Again” is singularly impressive just for the highs and lows that Mariah Carey takes her vocals through on this song. Her vocals just take off and hit the roof in the middle and then gently sway down again. Just to listen to Mariah Carey’s vocals I would rate “Mine Again” high, it’s so impressive for the vocal range displayed on this track. “Say Somethin” features Snoop Dogg and while it’s a good track is not explosive enough when you consider it features Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg. “Stay The Night” is with good beats and groovy, but then it features Kanye West so that more or less settles it for Kanye West’s influence, a good track with great vocals again. "Get Your Number" featuring Jermaine Dupri is another great track and both Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri are in great form here, a great track with lots of energy. “One And Only” featuring Twista is a slow track, a ballad to the core, with Mariah Carey’s vocals coming to the fore again and effortlessly carrying the song through. “Circles” starts off with Mariah Carey in high pitch and that sets the tone for this track with Mariah Carey’s vocals sailing through on this track and hitting the highs so effortlessly, a must just for her vocals. “Your Girl” sounds autobiographical to a degree. “I Wish You Knew” a ballad, with Mariah Carey’s vocals shining through once again. “Joy Ride” is not exactly one, but it does not hurt either, a ballad again and I feel one too many extra on this album, but then again Mariah Carey’s vocals are great on this track too and only reinforces the fact that she is back. “Fly Like A Bird” is another ballad and the final track on the album, an inspirational track to the core and with gospel roots and is bang on target a fitting finale to the album. All said and done this is a great album and one of Mariah Carey’s finest pieces of work though its highly debatable if it’s the very best from Mariah Carey, but it certainly is up there with the very best that Mariah Carey has put out.
You can purchase this album from Amazon at -
Vin Diesel's Latest 'Babylon AD' Theatrical Trailer!
Related posts:
- Mariah Carey Is Back, and in a Great New Way! Review of Mariah Carey’s E=MC2 Album!
- Pavan Kalyan’s Jalsa Music Review!
- NTR’s Kantri Music Review!
- Sean Kingston – New Kid on the Block, but Way Better!
- Allu Arjun’s Parugu Music Review!
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 1 trackback }