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Mariah Carey is back, with a ninth album release that hopes to act as a reinvention of sorts. The Emancipation of Mimi finds the singer returning to her roots, with tracks that combine hip-hop and old school R&B ballads, the building blocks that founded Carey's success in the first place.
As opposed to recent attempts, most notably 2001's Glitter and 2002's Charmbracelet, Carey once again relies on her strongest asset, her range, and tries to take a step away from the over-synthesized pop singles that have been filling her albums of late.
With gospel numbers such as "Fly Like a Bird" and sultry ballads like "Circles" and "Mine Again", fans are once more reminded just how well Mariah Carey can blow. Not to mention her infamous trill, which can be heard whispering throughout the entirety of Emancipation.
The album also boasts a highly recognizable credits list, with collaborations by Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Twista and songs co-produced by Jermaine Dupri, the Neptunes and Kanye West. Perhaps the most telling credit, though, lies in Carey's continued work as a songwriter. Yet again, the admitted diva has a hand in almost every element of creating an album, and in turn, produces a very personal and revealing composition. Where Glitter and Charmbracelet were surface and cliched, Emancipation is reflective and insightful.
The Emancipation of Mimi was released on April 12 through Island Records and has already created a hit single in "It's Like That". Eager young teens have excitedly begun to download the ring tone version from MTV's Web site and, while this is not a certain indication of things to come, can only be seen as a profitable step. She may not have found her way back to the glory days of Emotions and Musicbox, but it would seem Mariah Carey is on the right track. (FSView)
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