Mary J Blige - Growing Pains
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Free Music Notes for Growing Pains
Free Music Review: The Growth within the Growing pains
Hit: 5 Stars
Growing Pains is the eighth studio album from the everyones favorite underdog and peoples champ! Mary J Blige. The Queen of hip hop Soul manages to make an album that treads new ground, yet sticking to the very familiar path that fans, stans and haters alike have come to know, love and hate. The 16 track offering is as honest as a My Life but without the pain, No shes no longer hurting, Yes she still experiences downs, but this time around she doesn't force either extreme like she has in the past on less successful releases (Love and Life anyone?) This outing shes being true to not only her fans but most of all herself.
The album opens up on a perfect note with the upbeat/inspirational second single "Work That" co-produced by Sean Garrett and Theron Feemster. The song is IMMEDIATELY followed by the head-nod inducing track "Grown Woman", which marks Marys best club ready, trunk blasting track since the 2001 infectious number 1 hit "Family Affair". Tracks segue into each other beautifully and without hesitation, grabbing the attention of your ears and keeping it until the very last track, which happens to be one of the best on the album. "Come To Me (Peace)" is arguably the apex of the album, showcasing a synth-heavy sound that's not typical of Mary's yet still familiar, relatable and experienced enough to be VERY MARY, much like the song that precedes it, the piano and string filled smoke "Smoke".
With Lyrics like "Holding on isn't healthy, but its killing me to let go/ Trying to stare at your picture but i cant see it not for all the smoke" and Production/writing from heavy hitters like Brian Michael Cox, Neyo, Tricky Strewart, The Dream, and Stargate, it only proves that Mary can still relate to those going through it, because at times she still is too. Proving that shes still human and, contrary to popular belief, Kendu is not God and flubs up from time to time like anyone else. Songs like smoke and the personal favorite "Roses" only adds to the conviction of the albums push for positivity and love, or at least the up and down personal journey to that.
Like any album there are some weaker moments (not necessarily ineffective tho) within the album. The unbalanced "Shake Down" features Usher and comes off as a teaching lesson from Mary to the R&B crooner more so than anything else it was intended. A more logical and worthy opponent like Jaheim would have been a perfect counterpart for the maturity and polished honesty, in Mary's voice, that even with 45623345245645 million records sold later Usher still lacks. The weak moments are forgivable and completely overshadowed with gems and overall FUN tracks like the throwback sounding "Till the Morning". Produced by the Neptunes, this track takes Mary to an era where she would have fit in perfectly and solidifies the overall 1970s cohesion that this album gives, from the Michael Jackson inspired first single "Just Fine", to the cover shot, to the Wilona Woods inspired hair. Now is it just me or Would a remake of the CLASSIC 1970 track "Sparkle" By the QUEEN OF SOUL herself Aretha Franklin been more than suiting for this album?
This album comes at a perfect time in Marys career, unlike past albums that weren't as appreciated as they should have been due to bad timing. 2003's Love and Life, which came 10 years too late, or one of Marys best, 99's Mary, which came out about 5 years too early for many to appreciate the growth, musicianship, and over all genius of that album. Not an overnight icon, A 15 year spanning career has groomed, trained and polished our coal turned diamond Queen of HipHop Soul and she continues to shine. Mary takes us to a familiar destination with a alternate route filled with beautiful scenery and new surroundings and shows us that Growing Pains is easily one of the best R&B albums since...well..The Breakthrough
Free Music Review: Mary Brings Me To Tears....Im Serious!
Hit: 5 Stars
When you first listen to this CD. You hear Work That and its instant brand recognition. It was a smart smart move for mary to allow Itunes to use that song on their commercial. For new comers to Mary(If they could possibly exist) it is an excellent introduction to the Mary Brand. Who ever called her the Erica Kane of R and B couldnt have been a true fan of Marys. Marys brand is less Erica more Empowerment. How many other artists can you say have walked the same road as us through her music? You know when you listen to FadeAway...Mary is talking about herself. When you hear Hurt Again...you know that Mary is talking from experience. THeres keeping it real diddy style and theres The realest...Mary Style. For that and that alone..I thank Mary because every single cd has been the backbeat to my life. I listened to Work that and wondered how she knew that I was going through "that" period of my life.
Mary has longevity not because she follows trends. She sets them off.
You cant mention Alica in the same breath as Mary.Rhianna who? Beyonce huh?
Mary just stands alone. A true Diva. A true Queen. And a lot of something called talent that doesnt need a studio sound to hit you in your heart.
Some of my favorites have been mentioned...but What Love is? Shes talking to us. Shes not screaming at us. Shes talking to us in a sweet melody thats called Song. You gotta love it. This album does feel like joy and pain because I cried to some of these songs, But thats Mary for ya.
Other worthy mentions go to Smoke, Come to Me(Peace).
Marys voice has grown so much and its for the better...if that was posible. From the rawness of Yonkers to what we have now. Smoke has this U2/John Legend sound to it. I want to hear more of Mary in this way. Who would have imagined Mary could have sung these kinds of songs back when I was 19? Mary. Drama Queen. Mary. Heart on Her Sleeve. Mary. Queen. Songstress. Legend.,,Wow..Im listening to the cd as I type this and Im still amazed by her talent and staying power.
Overall this cd is a SMASHER. Please dont buy the bootlegs. I saw a guy selling this here in NYC on bootleg and I cursed him out.You dont ever bootleg Mary J.Ever.
Do yourself a favor people. Buy the CD. Yea do the Itunes thing if you must. Amazon have the Mp3 but if you are a true fan of Mary you will want this nestled in your collecton right between My Life and The Breakthrough with Share My World holding all three down.
I love you Mary. Thank you for the music.
Free Music Review: MJB "Reign Totally Supreme"...Haters are NULL and VOID!
Hit: 5 Stars
Simply put, Mary is at her best with this album. It shows growth, maturity, and the ability to state that she is able to be consistent with making music for a good period of time. Since her first album in 1992 titled "What's The 411?", she has truly handled her business with making great music. It's so hard to still be able to "sell music" after your 20s in the entertainment business. You have to keep up with the times. Mary has done that, along with the help of fans who admire her professionally with still making music and personally with overcoming the bitter, harsh, and real things that any person can go through in their life. People have so many negative opinions about her from "She can't sing... She is a crackhead....She is no female vocalist..". However, these people fail to see that she can sing. No, she doesn't have Mariah Carey or Beyonce-like range and vocals. However, she sings totally from the soul and from the girl-around-the-way approach that anyone, especially women can relate. On top of that, she has overcome the use of marijuana and alcohol, along with past bad relationships along the way. She's finally self-confident to herself, her music and her life and is content with being the best Mary J. Blige she can be in her lifetime.
As for the album, I truly am impressed with "Smoke", "Fade Away", "Stay Down", "Hurt Again" and "Roses". All of these songs truly set the album at its best. Ne-Yo did an excellent job with writing and co-producing 4 songs off the album, "Smoke" being one of those songs he wrote. He did showcase and exemplify that Mary can sing songs beyond the "crying", "hurting" and the "pain", which Mary is truly signatured for with singing R&B/Hip-Hop/Soul songs (i.e. "My Life"). As for songs "Talk to Me" and "If You Love Me", Mary keeps us with what she is always been known for regarding songs coming from the soul grasping her straightforwardness when she sings about love-being in it, getting out of it and having gone through it. She sets her own standards with song expression like no other. From the rough, raw, soulful but realness in her voice, she has truly stood out and will forever do so.
Now, with reading this, "Should you buy the album?"...YES! If you are a true Mary J. Blige fan, you must do so. If you don't, that's fine. However, please respect the true fact that she is the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Hate it or Love it!
Free Music Review: Work That Just Fine
Hit: 5 Stars
Work That
Just Fine
Goosebumps and chills every time "Work That" came on the air, no matter where I was. An anthem, pep rally kind of song that immediately linked me back to the empowering feminist anthem "I am Woman (Hear me roar)". I can't recall a song as immediately so emotionally powerful as "Work That" in eons. It was as if, every time I heard the song, and looked around at the other women around me, there was a renewed sisterhood of goodwill. Somebody was talking to us, cheering us on. Wishing us well. Cheering us on. Somebody cares to share some good vibes. Not only the message, the messenger but the kindness and caring to reach out to strangers using a worldwide platform for goodwill? chills. So often, what's on the TV or the radio isn't about the audience so much as the sales. And rarely on a personal level of meaning.
For some people, there's not always, or ever been, someone around to tell you that you can make it, that you are somebody, somebody good and worthy. For some people, the negative that they hear is what they become, because that's all they principally hear. You can rise above or fall below expectations. Sometimes you can follow the lead of others, growing through the pains. "Follow me."
Back in the heydays of the 60s and 70s, there was a sisterhood of goodwill. No cat fights and such. Women were not the enemy as you progressed forward as a woman. Progress for any woman was progress for women as a group. Nowadays, competition and tearing women down are all over the air--TV, radio, news.
Women not calling each other names, the hateful "B" word. Women joining men in degrading women. It's so few and far between hearing anybody wish women well, pep you up, and cheer you on, that it's a relief and an immediate booster shot antidote from the other side of the coin every time I hear "Work That". This would be a background song when Michelle Obama hits the air as First Lady. "Follow me."
"Just Fine" got many of my days started, ended, and always was right on time.
Both songs would be just right for anyone or group working with women or girls in community development, leadership. "Work That" and "Just Fine" are cathartic, prayer like anthems that can lead the current and next generation of women to new heights of goodwill towards themselves and others.
Free Music Review: A Christmas Surprise - One great R&B release for the end of 2007
Hit: 5 Stars
Just got my digital copy of "Growing Pains" and, after listening to it twice, I can tell that what might be one of the best Christmas music releases this year is, ironically, not a Christmas album. What might be one of the best R&B records of 2007 is being released just a little before the year ends. This time, the best was saved for last. And wisely saved.
"Growing Pains" is a nice album by Mary J. Blige. Sometimes she reminds me of Whitney Houston's way of singing, although MJB has her very own style and personality: she's confident and far away from being a total lovesick, although sometimes she succumbs, and when she does, it happens in a very strong way. With "Growing Pains" she's a bit of both things - cool and touchy. If this record was to be released in vinyl version, the "A" side could be called "The Cool" and the "B" side could be named "The Touchy". This record is a step ahead of "The Breakthrough", musically and lyrically speaking.
The Cool Side:
"Work That", "Grown Woman", "Just Fine" and "Feel Like a Woman" show in the lyrics and in the melodies a lot of what I called her self assurance and firm attitude. "Roses", which despite of the song title, is not a love song, but a tune that surprises everyone for its rage on the inside, making it clear that, in that troubled relationship, it has now to be "her way".
The Touchy Side:
"Stay Down" is a joyful ballad that really puts the listener to relax. "Shake Down" featuring Usher is a subtle invitation to love-making. "Till The Morning" is a happy and stimulating passage with nice words. "What Love Is" doesn't really define what love is on its lyrics (she sings something like: it can be joy/it can be rain/it can be sunshine/it can be pain/it's an excuse to day/it's a reason to live - that's what love is), "If You Love Me" is an attitude-demanding song, "Hurt Again", "Fade Away", "Work in Progress" and "Smoke" seem to be related to personal struggles and finally "Talk to Me" and "Come to Me", as both titles suggest, are about reconciliations.
All in all, this is a great piece of music that only MJB could deliver. Enjoy yourself with this.