Pork is here with his weekly post, bringing you the best of this week’s new music releases.
Can anyone who knows a thing about me be surprised that today is all about my girlfriend, Mariah Carey? Barbra Streisand may claim to have all of the answers with her new album, and Madonna might claim that her new ‘hits’ compilation is reason to Celebrate, but MC is for me…and therefore for you today.
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is studio album number 12 for Mariah and nearly 20 years into her career, she has learned what has made her a worldwide phenomenon. Besides “the voice” we all hear, is the voice behind the lyrics. Most people should know by now that one of the distinguishing factors between Mariah and the endless pool of other r&b/hip-hop/pop singers (besides “the voice”) is the fact that she writes her songs. Mariah has patented a certain kind of lyrical charm that can paint a whimsical scene or harshly deliver a diss with a sharp and biting wit. Mariah’s various styles, both vocally and lyrically, have all come together to form a larger portrait of her worth on Memoirs.
That being said, Memoirs is not quite the album you would expect a newlywed to write. Amongst the picture-perfect ocean-side nuptials and romantic jaunts to amusement parks, Mariah has still managed to keep the heartbroken songs on the winning side of the ratio. Mariah explained the angles she’s chosen as a songwriter for this project to Amazon.com: “Each song tells its own story. Each one is like an intimate conversation or entry in a private diary. A lot of the songs reflect specific, different times in my life, actual events that happened to me, some of which are from way back in the past. Others were inspired by movies or from a friend of mine that may have told me their story. People can listen to it and pick out certain songs that mean something to them – women especially. It’s about women’s empowerment and overcoming certain things. It’s fun too though. It’s got a little bit of something for everybody”.
A majority of the production duties on Memoirs were handled by recording artist/producer (and recently appointed Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam Records) The-Dream with mega-producer Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Beyonce‘s “Single Ladies”.) The pair is most famous for their uber-smash “Umbrella” by Rihanna in 2007. This synergy can be heard most clearly here on “Standing O” which inhabits a similar strut and stutter.
There are even more sides to Mariah than represented on the triple-image cover to Memoirs. There’s an MC for just about every day of the week and they are all here (and I love each and every one of them.)
I love how Pork kept saying: “not quite the album….” in other words, another sub-par Mariah album. She’s ever only put out one significant album and that was Butterfly. I wouldn’t hold my breath about her putting out another one ever again.
hey nate,
thanks for your comment.
i don’t happen to agree with your comment about Butterfly being MC’s only significant album. The debut, Emotions, Daydream, Music Box, Emancipation. These are all classic albums that knocked the shit out of everything else released at the time.
Butterfly is outstanding, but it’s far from alone.
nate, just so things don’t get twisted, i didn’t keep on saying “not quite the album.”
i only said this in the following way “Memoirs is not quite the album you would expect a newlywed to write.”
just for clarity’s sake.
:]
@Pork,
I like your girlfriend, heck I used to love her which is why she makes me so mad! The Debut and Daydream were pretty decent/good respectively, Emotions was a mixed bag to me, and as good and catchy as Music Box and Mimi are, to me they feel a bit hollow because they are more concern with commercial success than actual um, emotions. Which is why Butterfly reigns supreme in my opinion because for once Mariah was truly emancipated and seem to be singing from the heart without caring about chart success (which she still achieved and just goes to show) not that she hadn’t shown signs of actual feelings prior to it as “Vanishing” “If It’s Over” and “Looking In” can attest. I just wish she use that bloody talented voice of her to good use again. E=MC2 was just a wannabe Mimi and its second half just wasn’t good period, I blame Jermaine, and the new one…well more of 13yr old/lost my clothes Mariah and that just seems as tire as Janet Jackson singing desperately about being a size queen. She will be remember for her voice but not her music and thats sad.
thanks for your opinion, nate.