Mariah Carey - E=MC2
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Free Music Notes for E=MC2
Free Music Review: Worth the wait!
Hit: 5 Stars
I've became a 'Lamb' in 1990 when 'Mariah Carey' was released. It was the first CD I ever bought, and I have been completely taken by Mariah's voice, song-writing abilty, and personality ever since.
Over the years she has continued to thrill and inspire me with the entire catalog of her albums. I'll admit there were a few tracks that I don't enjoy as much as others, but in general, Mariah consistantly delivers music of a quality few other artist can touch. Even the concept/soundtrack album for Glitter which many considered a debacle, was enjoyable. Some tracks like "Reflections" and "Tornado" still impress me with their intense, emotional honesty.
That having been said, the latest release, "E=MC2" is by far one of my favorites. Mariah has incorporated more of who she is as a person, and her personal life experiences in the tracks on this album than any other to date. The opening line, of "Thanks for Nothing", 'I can't even know what to say...' has been a frequent Mariah-ism over the years, and as Lamb, it was almost like a nod to all of us fan's who would get the reference. Like a discreet, and perhaps unintentional 'thank you'. "Side Effects" is another deeply personal track as explained on Oprah. I think it transends dysfuntional romantic relationships to really any kind of relationship in which one might feel trapped, or abused in some way, and brilliantly illistrates the 'emancipation' one feels in finally building up the strenght to remove those people from your life. Again, with "Bye Bye" the central theme is having lost someone in a physical sense, but near the end of the track, she belts, "...This is for everybody!" and it's definately true. I haven't lost a loved one recently or ever, but I can definitely relate to that type of loss, and really feel the pain she expresses in the song.
The album of course isn't all sad and mopey. Some her best dance songs ever are on this album. When the beat to "Migrate" starts, and she sings coyly in her upper register, you can't help but move. Similarly, "I'm That Chick" is a 'stone groove' as MiMi might say. The fun disco feel and the discreet smapling of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" make this song irresistable.
The ballads are... Well, first of all, ballads are what Mariah Carey is really known for, and on 'E=MC2' she doesn't fail to impress yet again. "I Stay in Love" in all it's longing for the past and unwillingness to let go of something that has obviously come to end end, remains hopeful. I predict this one to go #1 with a bullet if it's released as a single. Another of the albums many prolific ballads is "Love Story". My personal love story is litterally mirrored by this songs lyrics. "This aint gon' end up like that Casablanca movie..." really spoke to me as it plainly expresses the fact that no relationship is easy, but if you're determined to make it work, you will succeed in preventing a tragic Hollywood ending.
In summation, as stated in the title of my review, this album was difinitely worth the wait, and I believe it to be a sign of even more great things to come in future from Miss Carey.
If you don't have this album yet, buy it immediately if not sooner. It does not dissapoint!!!
Free Music Review: Incredible Album
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is incredible. Personally, I do not see how anyone could have rated it any less than 3 stars. This album reminds me of the "Daydream" era. She has some awesome ballads on here. She still uses her amazing powerful voice throughout the CD, just not in excess. I highly recommend this album for any R&B/Pop fan.
1. Migrate f/ T-Pain: This will be a big hit in the clubs. The beat is awesome and I like the energy of this song. 8/10
2. Touch My Body: I'm sure everyone has heard this song by now. It's a bouncy, fun song. It's not the best track on the album but nonetheless, a good song. 7/10
3. Cruise Control f/ Damian Marley: This is hot! The beat sounds like a mixture of Shake It Off and Ignition (Remix). This would be a great summer song. 9/10
4. I Stay In Love: Excellent haunting ballad. One of her best ballads EVER. You can feel the emotion in her voice. This NEEDS to be a single. It is reminiscent of "Burn" by Usher but better! 10/10
5. Side Effects f/ Young Jeezy: This is another excellent track. It's very different for Mariah. This could be a HUGE single as well. Young Jeezy is on this but only raps a few lines. I love the beat and could listen to this over and over again. 10/10
6. I'm That Chick: This is one of my least favorite track on the CD. It sounds very disco-y. It's not a bad song, it's just not my cup of tea. 6/10
7. Love Story: This is a nice slow jam but definietly not her best. This reminds me of "Joyride" from The Emancipation Of Mimi. Nice story in the song if you listen to the words. 7/10
8. I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time: I did not think I would like this song but it is quite good. Mariah's vocals are very strong in this track and it's one of the better uptempo songs on the album. 9/10
9. Last Kiss: Once again, a great track. I don't know how good it would do as a single but it's very nice. This sounds like it should have been on the "Daydream" album. She uses her power-voice at the end. 8/10
10. Thanx 4 Nothin': AWESOME song. You will be humming the chorous for weeks after hearing it. Again, she belts it out in the end. 10/10
11. O.O.C.: Another bouncy track. This could also do well as a single if released in the summer. It's very catchy. It sort of reminds me of "X-Girlfriend" on the Rainbow album. 10/10
12. For The Record: Another incredible ballad. This will probably be alot of people's favorite track on the album. Wow, she really sings this song like it's nobody's business. Listen to the long whistle note towards the end. It sounds like early 90's Mariah on here. 10/10
13. Bye Bye: This is the 2nd single from the album. It's a nice song that may help people deal with death. Sounds similar to "Don't Forget About Us". 9/10
14. I Wish You Well: This is not one of my favorites yet. It is just Mariah's voice backed with a piano. Something about it just doesn't flow very well. Her vocal strength however, is very prominent in this song. Maybe it will grow on me. 6/10.
This is the MUST HAVE CD of 2008.
Free Music Review: I'm Proud of Her
Hit: 5 Stars
First, let me say I'm a contemporary of Mariah, male in my mid-thirties, and I have to say that I'm very proud of her. Lots of judgmental people on this review chain, from people who think that it's their job to compare this album to Abbey Road, to those who just like to relax and smile. I'm a relax and smile type. You're listening to songs written and performed by a 30-something who has gone through a hell of a lot, and whose world view is so radically different than us mere mortals, that you have to stand back and see her for who she is. In Touch My Body, she's a woman who wants to be loved...not in the "find a highschool sweetheart and lets get married at the local chapel" kind of love, but in the "I'm an untouchable Rapunzel diva who lives in a gate multimillion dollar mansion and who has every aspect of my life controlled and scripted, and I just want you to sneak in and love me, in private." Adult love, make your old Aunt Mae blush love. But I bet somewhere under that coiffed hair, your old Aunt Mae is getting jazzed by the idea. Sorry but cute as she is, fifteen year old Miley Cyrus can't make these songs like these. She can't make songs like these because she hasn't been there, done that. In songs like Migrate, Mariah's showing us she can be as cool and fresh as any of them. You don't have to be 20-something to bring down the house. People who lament that this album isn't all pure and innocent and 1990's Mariah need to take a step back and see that this isn't 1990's Mariah singing. I actually felt uncomfortable a bit listening to her slam Mottola...it's such a personal song, and she tells him like it is. I bet when Tommy listened to it for the first time, those memories when he abused her flashed into his mind. Then what flashed in his mind is that she's not his anymore, he could have had her but he ruined it. The next thing that flashed in his mind was that millions of people were also listening and thinking the same thing. Take that, pal. That's raw right there, and it's good stuff. Listen to it and find out more about who she is and what she's been through. I popped the song "Lovin You Long Time" on and I've had it on repeat for the last few hours. It's a great song. No, it's not profound. It's not Shakespeare, but who sits and read Shakespeare all day? I'm going to pop the top on my convertible, throw in this disc, and remember the Summer of 2008 a little more because of these songs. The fact that Mariah can do that for me and for millions of people, can push over 400,000 copies of a disc in its first week almost two decades into a career, can take on Elvis and the Beatles for the most #1 hits, can come back from being the subject of supermarket tabloid fodder that would break my heart if it were me on the cover getting brutally slammed day after day...is such a cool, cool thing.Free Music Review: goodness here
Hit: 5 Stars
I didn't like Touch My Body the first few times I heard it, but it has grown on me. And I can see why it was chose at the first single. There's really not a bad song on the album, maybe a few I find less interesting than others. But even those ones are still better than just about anything else anyone else is putting out. "Migrate" with T-Pain is... Interesting, you have Mariah - the most dynamic voice of our generation teamed up with T-Pain who is probably about as as opposite of that as you can possibly get. He knows how to bring a hook, the song works.
"I'm That Chick" has so much flavor, it should be a single, but there are many other good tracks so I don't know. It sounds like she could be doing a duet with Kool & The Gang her, I absolutely love the old school funk vibe on it. "I Stay In Love" is a perfect ballad and this is why Mariah is so important, a lot of artists can make decent ballads, but Mariah can deliver ones that are timeless. This song will still sound fresh in 20 years. This is what Mariah does best, as far as her ballads go this is really deserving of being in her top 5. I don't see how this won't be the next single, if it doesn't become a single I will stop listening to music all together.
"Cruise Control" is different, I like Damian Marley, not a duet I'd expect but it works. And Mariah even swerves off into a Jamaican accent for a few lines. I didn't like "Side Effect" when I heard it, I like it more now but I think Jeezy was the wrong person to be on it. I could see Luda or maybe even T.I. on it but whatever.
"O.C.C." is another banger, the hip-hop beat mixed with her voice is on point. Her voice overall is great here, weather it's all her, or some studio magic. She sounds as good as she ever did. My problems with the album are very few, but one of them is it seems J.D. is on too many damn tracks talking. He doesn't add anything, his production is great here but hearing him talk over a lot of the tracks is UGH!
"Last Kiss" is a perfect example" a near classic Mariah ballad, which is lessened by his chattering in the background. She ends the album with 2 very somber songs "Bye Bye" is beautiful and could make a really good single. The lyrics are strong and if you've ever lost anyone important to you, there's no way you can't relate to and feel this song. "I Wish You Well" is a mellow ending to the album, very fitting.
Mariah still has it, I really don't see a better R&B album dropping this year, she has stepped up her attitude and definitely the lyrics are on point. She make a few references to drugs but nothing bad. The Up tempo songs are almost all great "I'm The Chick" will get much play at BBQ's this summer. And as I already mentioned the ballads are exactly what you'd expect from Mariah.
Free Music Review: I really enjoy this album!
Hit: 5 Stars
Although "The Emancipation of Mimi" was a really good album, I found it a bit hard to digest at times.
So when I heard "E=MC2" I was pleasantly surprised that pretty much every track was perfectly accessible and listenable!
Everyone will give Mariah crap for sacrificing those 'oh so powerful' ballads for more commercial hip hop/r&b influenced songs.
And I understand she is no circa 1990 Mariah anymore.
Ever since "Mimi" she has adopted this new persona with more upbeat albums and "E=MC2" is no exception.
I absolutely love this album and totally reccomend it to anyone, regardless of whether they aren't into Mariah or not. I was not into Mariah before "Mimi" and that album introduced me to her awesome music.
Key tracks on this album are:
Migrate (Super hot right now, everyone kind of hates it but I think its a real hot song, its with T-pain so she knows who shes dealing with!)
Touch My Body - Although it was an underwhelming 1st single, its still a freakishly catchy song that youll be singing in your head days after you first hear it.
Cruise Control - Mimi goes Jamaican and it works! Really catchy song! Already 3 tracks into the album and its still workin!
I Stay In Love - OK This kind of sounds like a carbon copy We Belong Together wannabe, but if mimi knows what works for her then why fix it?
Side Effects - My favourite cut on the album. Its all about her bad marriage to that record label guy, and its really personal! Really revealing lyrics.. A really good club song despite its sad subject matter. Best!
I'm That Chick - Really smooth track. Thats the only way I can describe it. Its smooooth.
I'll Be Lovin U Long Time - Another awesome song. Has huge radio hit potential.
For The Record - People are talking and saying this is Mimis best song in years, and while I dont agree with them completely, I can see why they are saying it. Just listen to this and you will see!
Bye Bye - A really touching song. About the passing of her father. Im predicting this will be a big hit with people and another possible #1. Its just another awesome track.
I Wish You Well - Rumoured to be about her estranged sister, this track is my 2nd favourite despite what any one says. The vocals are amazing, the lyrics are also amazing and its just all good. A perfect way to end this album.
So yeah, the only tracks I can really do without are "Last Kiss" and "Thanx For Nothing", the remaining 2 tracks will probably grow on me.
So I totally recommend this, I personally think its better than "Mimi", even if she sacrifices some BIG vocals for commercial accesibility.
5/5...definitely.