Mary J. Blige - Love & Life
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Free Music Notes for Love & Life
Free Music Review: Love & Life
Hit: 4 Stars
I bought the SE Love & Life cd/dvd on the release date and was mildly disappointed after listening to it for the first time but then I realized that I was committing the one error that a lot of music fans do - I was comparing this album to Mary's classics - the incomparable My Life & Mary. Given time and a few more listens, I have to say that this album is not as bad as I initially thought (had I rated it the day after purchase, I'd have given it a 1.5 star rating). It's classic Mary - a few danceable joints and a few ballads, it's a good album that I'd definitely rank higher than No More Drama, which to me only had 4 memorable songs.
I'm not quite sure why so many r&b females had such a difficult time in 2003 - sure the media hyped Beyonce but others put out superior MUSIC and were ignored which was a shame.
Mary J fans who gave the record a chance should not be disappointed and to those who aren't familiar with Mary J's work, I'd highly recommend listening to My Life or What's The 411 to decide whether or not Mary's music is for you.
The standout tracks to me are: Love @ 1st Sight, Ooh!, Feel Like Making Love, Ultimate Relationship and Not Today.
Free Music Review: Mary's album
Hit: 3 Stars
The album is a good and bad, some songs are really good and some songs just say in your mind, uhh skip!!Free Music Review: Mary J. Blige, "Love & Life"
Hit: 2 Stars
Mary J. Blige is the goddess of Hip Hop and she knows it.
She pulled all the stops and enlisted an A-team of producers and guest collaborators. And that seems to be the problem with "Love & Life". From start to finish, this CD comes off as over-produced and lazy.
After "No More Drama," fans expected more from Mary. Mary has the power to move people with her music. Her emotions typically shines through and engages the listener to want more. "Love & Life" does not represent the same Mary J. Blige that brought us "Real Love" and "Family Affair". Instead this offering comes off as lackluster and out-of-touch. Just because she has featured duets with Eve and 50 Cent, does not guarantee a HOT finished product.
Even though this is not Mary's best offering, there are a few gems to consider. The first radio single, "Love @ 1st Sight" is an excellent jam reminiscent of her early years. "Not Today" is a fairly decent track considering the entire CD as a whole. Aside from these two tracks, the rest of the CD comes off as discarded b-sides that did not make the cut from previous offerings.
This reviewer recommends waiting for a greatest hits collection to see how many of these tracks will make the cut. Good luck hunting!
Free Music Review: 3 1/2 stars for the album, 5+ for Mary J. Blige and Dr. Dre
Hit: 4 Stars
Mary J. Blige is always consistent vocally. This album is no exception, even though the latter half of the album falls off, typical of many albums today. True, this album doesn't spawn a hit the caliber of "I'm Going Down", but it is still a capable album. Blige always has her "powerhouse" vocals as a plus despite sometimes lackidaisical material. The best production is by Dr. Dre on "Not Today" featuring Eve. P.Diddy has 2 stellar productions with "Don't Go" and "When We", but otherwise, the rest of the album's production is particularly stunning. "Ooh" is also another pretty good track. Overall this album is just okay, yet Mary J. Blige and Dr. Dre on "Not Today" give a little light to a somewhat average affair. 3 1/2 stars. Free Music Review: Love & Life Girl
Hit: 5 Stars
Mary always be kickin' y'know what I'm mean, she just on pushin' and pushin'. Like to say this is one of the best albums she put out since her and Puffy (or P. Diddy which I call him) separated. It has a lot of songs which I call a blend of Jazz, R&B, Funk, Soul and Hip-Hop or else I would say "jazzadelic" which is sound more jazzy, more R&B, more hip-hoppish, all of that.
I think she is a big inspiration since I seen her on the beginning when her Behind the Music interview she did on VH1 which was excellent changed my life completely. I've never been a fan of her as much since I heard a few songs she did (e.g. "Not 'Gon Cry from the Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack, I think that was the 1st song I heard of her since I got into her instantly a lil' bit more.)
Ok, as I was sayin, this is not a big disappointing for her to put out a album that has a lot of spiritual love songs or whatelse I would say real songs that talks from the heart. People should suggest where she's coming from and where she puts that into her music. I thank God that she's growing and ready to move on.
Here are the tracks:
1. Love & Life intro feat. Jay-Z - (5/5) I don't have no hate on Jay-Z, but a lot of ya'll that dis him you shouldn't be happy. I love him 4 the way he does things. He did a good job collaborating on this intro w/ Mary and P. Diddy.
2. Don't Go- (5/5) This is one of my favorites. It has a good upbeat w/ real hip-hop beats that make you go up and down or nod your head or bop your head or whatever. Think she deserves to do this. It features a sample of Johnny Mercer/Henry Mancini classic "The Long Goodbye" which was done by the late Lou Donaldson (i'm not sure if he's around or not).
3. When We- (5/5) Reminds me of Floetry while growing up in high school and all that. Takes me back into sum good memories.
She's sure keepin' it real. Features a sample of Marvin Gaye's classic "I Want You".
4. Not Today feat. Eve- (5/5) This is one of the classics right thurr she did w/ my girl Eve (who is now a rapper-turned-superstar actress). I think Dr. Dre produce this joint he did with Mary J. while I was watching the making the making of the album on DVD (it was quite a lil' disappointing but it needs a lil space in it)
5. Finally Made It (Interlude)- (5/5) Don't have a problem with interludes I don't think why nobody hates them 'cause they do so much talk and s***. It talks about her life, struggles, and where she's at right now. Features a sample of Chaka Kahn's "Better Days"
6. Ooh- (5/5) This is kinda takes me back into the Native Tongues world stuff. I was like "damn! this is makin' me feel I like a lot of jazz that much." Yeah it has a real jazz beat to up w/ a lot of hip-hop sound to it to sound better than eva. She actually did a remix to it w/ 50 Cent and G-Unit which I'm a huge fan to. Features a sample of Bohannon's "Singing This Song For My Mother".
7. Let Me Be the 1 feat. 50 Cent- (5/5) Now this song right here I don't have any problems to it but I appreciate my man 50 doing a good job collaborating with her. For those that hate 50, don't listen to it at all. And for those love or haven't even heard of 50, you should check him right here on this track.
Features a sample "I'll Bet You" by the Jackson 5.
8. Love @ 1st Sight feat. Method Man- (5/5) Excellent track and the 1st single from my girl Mary who back with a collaboration with P. Diddy and Method Man performing along. I think it takes me back where there's a lot of partying going on or there's some praise goin' on and stuff. She finally did good work on this one. I praise God she did. Keep it up, Mary.
Features a sample "Hot Sex" by my favorite rap group A Tribe Called Quest.
9. Willing & Waiting- (5/5) Reminds me of some R&B singers I grew up listening like Donell Jones, Jon B. and all of that. Sure puts some soul on this one. I think it is talking about the relationship she going thru with a man and trying to fix it.
Features a sample of Atlantic Starr's "Love Calls" (one of my favorites).
10. Free (Interlude)- (4/5) Don't have problems with this one, but I think is good but I think it all that bad, know I'm mean?
I think she is saying we should be free from all sorts of evil that comes in us w/o failing to acheive and/or succeed our goals as life-giving Christian. I'm a true God believer who knows all the details.
11. Friends- (4.5/5) Kinda alright w/ me but it think it needs some feel to it our something. Features a sample of the late Barry White's (R.I.P.) "Mellow Mood, Pt. 1".
12. Press On- (4/5) Now this one tells all the details you have to go thru in life whether is homework, job searching, acheiving your goals, making a great person outta yourself, etc.
Features a sample of Crofts and Seals or something entitled "Summer Breeze" which I liked.
13. It's a Wrap (3/5)- It use to be something I hate oftenly but I thought I was gonna save it for the girls but I believe its a good song to tell you not to go out with other women on who you're marrying to. 'Cuz I'm single and I still searching 4 a girl who is Christ-given or spirit-filled. I think it's alright on my list, absolutely not my favorites to listen to all the time, but is a great track.
14. Message In Our Music (Interlude)- (5/5) This is one of my favorite interludes right there which how we livin in the music industry and where we keep our minds and words on what we put into our message to people. Features a sample of Kool & the Gang's "Summer Madness" (who are my favorite groups).
15. All My Love- (5/5) Kinda alright but it needs some work on this one. Nothing something I hated but it has a upbeat to it w/ vibes rollin on this one.
16. Special Kind of Me- (5/5) Not much to say on this one but a sweet song that tells all the details behind friendship, marriage, breakups, and all of that.
17. Ultimate Relationship (A.M.)- (5/5) This is sumthin I can sleep around with or something. Makes you feel healthy inside when you dreamin' about what's inside of you and where u're 'bout to become.
Favorites incl. on this album:
Don't Go
Not Today
Love @ 1st Sight
Ooh
Willing & Waiting
When We
Message In Our Music (Interlude)
Finally Made It (Interlude)
This is definitely a must-have who love R&B, smooth jazz and hip-hop. Highly recommend it alongside Alicia Keys' THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS, Musiq's SOULSTAR, Guru's JAZZMATAZZ, VOL. 1, Grover Washington Jr.'s THE BEST OF GROVER WASHINGTON, JR., Regina Belle's LAZY AFTERNOON, Ronny Jordan's AT LAST, Floetry's FLOETIC and FLOACISM LIVE, Erykah Badu's WORLDWIDE UNDERGROUND, The Crusaders' RURAL RENEWAL, Will Downing's SENSUAL JOURNEY, and Boz Scaggs' DIG.
Keep it girl, you're da bomb. Wish more albums comin' out from ya in the future.