The Emancipation of Mimi
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[4.0 Stars]
1101 Reviews
Pub. 12-Apr-2005;
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B0007GAERG
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Authors/Performers
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Mariah Carey;
Product Description
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Early buzz on The Emancipation of Mimi predicted that this would be the disc to mark "the return of the voice"--the voice being that glass-shattering instrument that propelled Carey to bestselling female artist of all time status--and mostly it is. But because of the small army of talent involved in its assembly, the album is way more than just a comeback vehicle. For proof, try straight-ahead, look-out-Beyonce-Mimi's-still-got-it "Mine Again," or '70s-soul cuddle-up, "Circles:" a don't-attempt-on-American-Idol love song, or the gospel dazzlers "Fly Like a Bird," and "Stay the Night." But for songs that steer this disc directly into 2005, no looking back, scan the jewel case for the tracks followed by the word "featuring": "To the Floor," with Nelly, bumps along to maximum booty-shaking effect, while Twista spins his natural-disaster-force vocals into "One and Only." Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, and Jermaine Dupri also pitch in; between them and the highwire vocals, Emancipation works the kind of pure-pop magic that sets us all free. --Tammy La Gorce More from Mariah 
Mariah Carey | 
Emotions | 
Music Box | 
Merry Christmas | 
# 1's | 
Glitter |
Track 1. ItÂ’s Like That;
Track 2. We Belong Together;
Track 3. Shake It Off;
Track 4. Mine Again;
Track 5. Say SomethinÂ’ featuring Snoop Dogg;
Track 6. Stay The Night;
Track 7. Get Your Number featuring Jermaine Dupri;
Track 8. One And Only featuring Twista;
Track 9. Circles;
Track 10. Your Girl;
Track 11. I Wish You Knew;
Track 12. To The Floor featuring Nelly;
Track 13. Joy Ride;
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Mariah Carey's fall from grace was, for a time, one of the most widely publicized downfalls of a celebrity. She faced subsequent failures of her first venture into acting, Glitter, as well as with the soundtrack and her following album, Charmbracelet. This was the album that spawned rumours that Mariah had lost her once incredible vocal ability, due to the whispery and somewhat strained sound of her voice on nearly all the tracks. After her recovery, Mariah sought to prove to her detractors that she was still on top of her game, and her voice as powerful as ever. As a result, we received this; her highly acclaimed, "return of the voice" comeback album.
Lead single "It's Like That" is a catchy, happier kind of track that hints at Mariah's continuing vocal power, since she bypasses the whispery style in favour of singing in her full voice. Some have written this off as a mere attempt to appeal to the younger crowd, but it must nevertheless be said that it brought Mariah back into the public's attention. "We Belong Together", while in its prime, was a massive hit that bordered heavily on overexposed. This is truly Mariah's return to form. It is similar stylistically to Mariah's classic ballads, featuring powerful vocals and well-written lyrics. This has potential to stand among Mariah's classics, due to its style as well as its popularity. "Shake It Off" was more of a grower, although it is a fan favourite. It initially appears to be a typical mid-tempo, but Mariah's vocals really sold it for me. It's not my favourite, but it's enjoyable as a whole. "Mine Again" has more of an old-school feel, with quiet instrumentation that is practically masked by Mariah's powerful vocals. This song alone would prove to her critics that at least vocally, Mariah is back on top form. It is very reminiscent of her earlier material, which is definitely a good thing.
"Say Something", assisted by Snoop Dogg, can't really hold a candle to their earlier collaboration on her Rainbow album, but makes a decent listen nonetheless. I really like Snoop's rap, although Mariah's parts are fairly average and repetitive. The Kanye West produced "Stay the Night" was another grower. It is another track that showcases Mariah's vocal prowess, but suffers from a rather weak chorus. ("It's cold outside/and much too late to drive"). However, the vocals for the most part make up for the uncharacteristically weak lyricism. "Get Your Number" caused some rather pointless confusion about its guest star, since Jermaine Dupri sounded remarkably similar to Nelly. Aside from that, it is a catchy track which is a prime example of how vocals and production can save a song in spite of weak lyrics. The second verse fares quite a bit better, but it is ultimately the vocal arrangements that make the song. "One and Only" was one of the better tracks to feature a guest star, although the first half fares much better than the second. The lyrics to the second verse are weak, and Mariah's quick and whispery delivery does not suit the track at all. Twista's verse seems a little slowed down compared to anything else I've heard from him, and makes a great contribution to the track.
"Circles" highlights both Mariah's vocal and songwriting abilities at their best. This is another track reminiscent of classic Mariah, giving a very passionate and sincere performance. Here again, Mariah proves that she doesn't need guest rappers and dumbed-down lyrics to have appeal. "Your Girl" is easily one of the weakest tracks, that is thankfully quite short (under three minutes). It's not that the song is bad per se, but the vocal arrangement could have been much better. The chorus seems to be yelled (as in chanted, not belted) at the listener, and comes across as rather obnoxious. "I Wish You Knew", in contrast, proves itself to be a highlight. Like "Circles", this song was written Mariah and James Wright, a pairing that produced three of the best tracks on the album. Mariah's vocals are more controlled here, and the lyrics are some of the strongest. The track was given a live sort of feel, complete with an applause track (which surprisingly fit well, without appearing self-congratulatory). This is a definite highlight.
"To the Floor" with Nelly is a decent track overall, but suffers slightly from a weak hook. Nelly's actually a decent singer, which really surprised me since his rapping isn't all that great. Had the hook been even slightly stronger, this would have been a really good song, although as is it fares pretty well. "Joy Ride" has a sort of atmospheric feel although it may seem a little droning. There's no denying that it is a beautiful song, and showcases Mariah's vocals at their best, it remains somewhat unmemorable to me when compared with many of the other slower tracks featured here. "Fly Like a Bird" is the final track written by Mariah and James Wright, and is a jazzy, gospel-influenced closer. Normally I'm not a huge fan of Gospel music, but this one really works. Complete with choir and inspirational lyrics, this is a great track that ends the album on a high note.
Overall Mark: 4/5
Contrary to popular belief, this is far from a perfect comeback album. Mariah still seems to be under the impression that she needs to drop brand-names and use rappers in her songs to gain credibility and appeal to a younger crowd. In fact, the album's best tracks are those that allow both her voice and her songwriting to shine, namely the ballads which use minimal production. It's not that the hip-hop songs are terrible, it's just that at Mariah's age and with all she's accomplished/experienced, we should and often do expect more. It's fine to want to crossover and gain more fans, but the way Mariah goes about it tends to alienate those she already has. The biggest problem with this album is that, apart from several of the ballads, the lyrics are on the weak side. We have seen with her previous work that Mariah is a very capable songwriter, so there really isn't much excuse for lyrics at this level. For all its flaws, however, the album is a solid (if overrated) effort.
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[Rating: 4 Stars]
Well, I guess I am a huge fan still. Um, I loved her since she came out when I was ten. I'm 28 now, and this "featuring" after song titles is getting on my nerves. I'm getting too old for hip-hop. I can't so much relate to the young and angry anymore. Why does she cater to them?? She is abusing the talent bestowed upon her by having people talk over her. My only guess and hope is that it's for money. I don't want her to be a sellout like she is fast approaching, but I do want to hear later albums in hopes that someday Mariah Carey, the SINGER, comes back. Oh how I miss songs like "melt away".;
[Rating: 4 Stars]
Mariah is back and sounds better than ever. Every song on is here flawless. Mariah really put her heart and soul into this album. The singles along with the entire album are fun, catchy, and great to dance to. Mariah you got your crown back. (Though to me you never lost it.) If you do not have this CD, get it. Can not wait for the next CD...Your Number 1 Fan For Life-D. Man;
[Rating: 5 Stars]
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