Glitter: The Undercover review
Mariah Carey doesn't know if she wants to be Barbra Streisand or Missy Elliot. Her success was based initially on taking the Streisand path but somewhere along the journey off she trotted down Missy Elliot Highway. If this album didn't also double as a movie soundtrack, you would call it unfocused. Soundtracks sometimes make good cover-ups.
So what has Mariah dished up on Glitter. Quite simnply her very best and her very worst. Where she excels is with the ballads. "Lead The Way" and the new single "Never Too Far" showcase her as the true star she is. "Reflections" likewise is classy classic Carey.
She's also done some interesting covers over the years. Robert Palmer's "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" is great hot A/C radio format track, a worthy single contender, as is "Last Night, A DJ Saved My Life" with Busta Rhymes. When Mariah records uptempo dance pop, once again she does a great job. Where she falls over is when she tackled rap / R&B. The first single off this album "Loverboy" was just messy. It sounds like three different projects overlapping. What a shame it not only opens this album, but closes it too. This is as throwaway a song as Mariah as ever recorded.
There's some interesting guests. Mystical on "Don't Stop" but quite frankly this is Mystical feat. Mariah Carey, not the other way around. "All My Life" is a new song written by Rick James for Mariah. Now this is smooth R&B. When she sticks to her formula she is world class. Likewise with "Want You", very smooth vocals from Eric Benet and another Glitter showcase track. This is the R&B parameter that Mariah can extend too without sounding uncomfortable. Mariah's copping some bad press at the moment and a lot is riding on the success of this album, and accompanying movie. (Undercover.net) Many thanks to MCWNO.
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