Mary J. Blige
Love and Life
3 out of 4 stars
Hail Mary! The reigning queen of hip-hop and R&B retains her crown, justifiably through Love and Life, Mary J. Blige's ninth album.
In the album, she teams up with industry heavy-weights like Eve, Jay-Z, P.Diddy and 50 Cent.
"Let me be the one" is dark, haunting, and sweet all at the same time. It is very reminiscent of her cover of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell classic "You're all I need."
However, Blige teams up with Method Man again for a more upbeat number. "Love @ 1st sight" proves that she's still perculatin', and you cannot listen to the song without having a dire urge to nod along to the beat.
"Willing and Waiting and Ooh!" makes you want to own an 8-track. Think eclectic '70s with a modern twist. She stretches those pipes of hers, offering sexy, smooth, make-out music.
Blige is best at offering soul to club-bangers that are usually her best-known songs as they get the most airplay. Although she is the Real McCoy and possesses the pipes for the ballads, there is a sense of monotony. She also opted out of doing any extremely dismal songs; the album reflects a mood of perpetual optimism. Blige sticks with the same formula - a few dance tracks, a few R&B and a few ballads, and the best part of this focus is that she does it very well. For any other artist, this method would not have lasted as long, but somehow, the recipe still works for Mary J. Blige.
Ja Rule
Blood in my Eye
2 1/2 of 4 stars
Reinvention doesn't always work. Exhibit A: Ja Rule.
Ja Rule, known for providing street credibility to cute love songs, sweet duets with Ashanti, and producing a stream of chart toppers, has changed direction. In Blood in My Eye he takes on a darker, more hardcore approach. Social statements and rapper-feuds fuel the material on his latest album.
He's emerged buffer, with a new prodigy (Hussein Fatal), and some high-profile beef with 50 Cent.
"Things Goin' Change" is a direct hit at 50 Cent, G-Unit and Dr. Dre. The background music provides a contrast with a soulful woman singing and guns cocking.
"Clap Back" has been receiving a modest (and I mean modest) amount of airplay, but is nothing like his former radio hits. It has no catchy phrases, no sweet melodies, but it's the closest thing to a club-hit that's featured on the album.
The title track features his newest prodigy, Hussein Fatal. Fatal does surprisingly well, proving to be a decent lyricist. He plans on going on tour with Ja, and from the sound of it, seems like a rapper to watch.
The album features two bonus tracks that are freestyle session with Ja and Fatal. Ironically, these two tracks hold up the album, with some familiar background beats and some first-rate lyricism. It's hard to think about what the album would be without the bonus tracks, though.
Ja Rule's album is nothing to start a buzz over, but at least his beef with 50 is keeping him in the headlines. Hopefully he'll use the spotlight time to make an album that's more of a crowd pleaser.
Moonspell
The Antidote
3 out of 4 stars
Seeing is not believing. But listening sure is.
The Antidote by Moonspell is a creative and intricate album of dark, hard metal rock with a whimsical sense of verse. Its namesake was derived from a novel written by Jose Luis Peixoto, a Portugese writer. The four band members, who are all of Latin descent, produced an album that reflects the content of the novel.
"From Lowering Skies" demonstrates the paradox of being demonic and celestial simotaneously. Fernando Ribeiro, the lead singer who penned the lyrics to each song, has a haunting, beautiful voice.
In "The Southern Deathstyle" the abstract lyrics are poetic: "The sliver bullet - so earthly fast, Forever rope - so hard to find ... symbol of Trust." Think System of the Down.
Antidote has to be the best song on the album. "The cup is empty, shall be filled no more, and all the thirsty, can now approach ... the antidote." Much like noted poets of Latin literature, like Federico Garcia Lorca, the beauty of the words comes from their irony.
Ribeiro's musty vocal chords can best be heard on "Lunar Still." The slower track hints Ribeiro's slight accent, but more notably, the soul in his voice can send shivers down your spine.
In their newest album, Moonspell can caste a spell over you.
Reach the reporter at rekha.muddaraj@asu.edu.
