The Breakthrough - Mary J Blige Album Review

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Album Review

All kinds of people pop - up to throw their musical weight behind Mary J. Blige's latest album.

This mammoth 18 tracker includes U2, (a surprising inclusion) Brook, William, Jay-Z, Raphael Saadiq, Dave Young and Nina Simone.

Three-time Grammy award winner and undisputed queen of Hip-Hop Soul showcases her finely honed vocals. Not only impressive in the singing department, Blige has a big hand in the writing too, mostly in a collaborative capacity.

This music isn't usually my bag, but this is very tasty stuff.

Since 1992s single Real Love, she's charted every year. Tagged the beginning of 'Nu Soul', album 'What's The 411' from 1993, set a gradual rise to fame and fortune, though it wasn't without a struggle.

With its heavy urban feel, adding new textures and flavours previously unheard in the soul world, she was street-tough with image to match. Evolving from combat boots to sleek designer clothes, she exorcised her demons and softened her look, along with abandoning her bad-girl attitude which held her down.

Now darling of the contemporary music scene, particularly the US, The Breakthrough, her eighth, will no doubt bring further success, and possibly critical acclaim for the 34 year old Bronx songstress. It's not new territory bringing additional luminaries. In the past she's worked with stars like Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Wyclef Jean. Adding these luminaries to her CV has only served to add to her credibility.

For those in the know, Hip-Hop Soul is a genre all of its own, with a greater emphasis on the Soul, but the irregular R'n'B beats get plenty of exposure.

Silky smooth with great production, and those famous raw and emotive vocals, Blige has no competition from her peers.

Not all the songs work for me. There are a few average moments, About You, countered by the excellent - The Father In You. Behind each song there's still a strong formative emotional thread, racked with self-doubt and uncertainty. Check The Baggage to see what I mean. Blige is never afraid of opening her heart and soul: its powerful stuff when she's in full flight.

Best tracks - MJB Da MVP, Can't Get Enough, I Found Everything.

One, sung with Bono is outstanding and should be the next single after current release Be Without You.

Elly Roberts