yes, there are some great songs on it, it's much better than her last one. otoh it's not a great album qua album, not just cuz it's overlong (which you could have guessed) but because MJB doesn't commit to or appear to care about any particular aesthetic.
"no condition" and "empty prayers" are both absolutely brilliant though. "mr wrong" is an incredible single, drake aside.
― first period don't give a fuck, second period gon get cut (lex pretend), Monday, 30 January 2012 09:05 (twelve years ago) link
she really gave the songs on the new album the most generic self-affirmation titles possible for her best songwriting since 2005
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 9 May 2017 19:01 (six years ago) link
best album since then too
kind of like she wants to really probe the essence of what these clichés mean?
A rockcrit friend said the same thing. I still prefer Growing Pains and I iked about half of The London Sessions.
I'm quite taken with the Sullivan cowrites and the title track.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 9 May 2017 19:28 (six years ago) link
this is SO MY SHIT RN
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 9 May 2017 21:30 (six years ago) link
The Jazmin Sullivan co-writes and the DJ Camper productions (he and Sullivan work together on some of these) really sound great
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 May 2017 20:57 (six years ago) link
Sullivan was the lead writer for these four songs on Mary J. Blige's album "Strength of a Woman," and sang backup vocals on the first three of them: "Thick of It," "Set Me Free," "Glow Up," and "Thank You."
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 May 2017 21:03 (six years ago) link
I wonder if any of these cuts are going from the Billboard Adult RnB chart to any of the other r'n'b or pop ones?
― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 May 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
http://www.billboard.com/artist/309851/mary-j-blige/chart?page=1&f=379
"I am" in 2010 I think was her last song to cross over to the top 100. "Thick of It" from the new one was top of the adult R'n'b chart and hit 12th on the r'n'b songs chart.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 15:34 (six years ago) link
i heard "thick of it" on the mainstream r&b station once or twice but obviously not enough. the adult r&b station played it a ton tho. mainstream and adult airplay are combined for the r&b/hip-hop airplay chart, where it peaked at #5.
― dyl, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
Saw her live tonight. She did a powerful take on "No More Drama"-- was really testifyin.' "Thick of It" and a few others from the new one also sounded strong. On some older cuts she let the mostly female crowd sing many of the verses. Her 3 women backing singers and the band were good as well.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 May 2017 03:47 (six years ago) link
1 costume change and lots of talk about self-affirmation and relationships (it came across sincere)in the hour and a half gig
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 May 2017 14:08 (six years ago) link
It ain't all roses!
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 12 June 2017 01:28 (six years ago) link
I like the new one better than the London one, but haven't listened to the latter in a bit.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 June 2017 03:45 (six years ago) link
Just discovered her debut album What’s the 411 and can’t stop playing it. Where has this been all my life? Her voice is so beautiful!!
― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 19 December 2019 01:43 (four years ago) link
She's neither classic nor dud. She's okay, sometimes a bit dull, but she's had her moments. Family Affair is her best one by miles.
― does it look like i'm here (jon123), Thursday, 19 December 2019 14:19 (four years ago) link
don't over look the second album! my life; not the remixes (even though that one's pretty good too). i think it's even better than 411.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, 19 December 2019 17:41 (four years ago) link
and Mary is awesome, especially if you have trouble w/her.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 December 2019 19:20 (four years ago) link