ALBUM REVIEW: MARIAH CAREY - MEMOIRS OF AN IMPERFECT ANGEL
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

After what some fans and music critics would consider to be a disappointing performance on her last studio album, 2008’s E=MC², Mariah Carey is back with her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel, which hits stores today, September 29th, via Island Def Jam Records.
On Mariah’s last album, it seemed as though she tried to recreate the magic of her “comeback,” three years before with Emancipation of Mimi but fell short. However, amid what some saw as mediocre single choices and material, Mariah managed to serve up a gem of a single with “Touch My Body,” which surpassed Elvis Presley for the most #1 singles by a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was immaculately crafted by the dynamic duo, Tricky Stewart and The Dream.
The chemistry created was undeniable, thus Mariah recruiting the two to write and produce her whole album, with additional production from LOS Da Mystro, with whom The Dream crafted J. Holiday’s smash, “Bed,” and Mariah co-writing.
Memoirs is a solid album for what it is. Let’s face the facts: old-school, ’90’s, belting, diva Mariah is gone. She hasn’t been with us since Glitter era. With this new album, Mariah’s mission was clear: She had to put together material that would appeal to a younger audience, but not alienate fans who have loved the Mariah from years ago. So, the first taste that we got of this “new” Mariah was the “unofficial” first single, “♫ Obsessed.” Some would argue it was a cheap shot at Eminem, with it’s blatant Mariah/Eminem drag look-alike in the video, but many fans were impressed with the first effort, albeit it’s under performance on the charts. And she locked down the streets with her remix with Gucci Mane.
The rest of Memoirs is pretty straight forward: catchy hooks, clever metaphors, tricky vocabulary and cute samples (on “Candy Bling,” Mariah samples “Back in the Day” by Ahmad, while “Inseparable” interpolates Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” and “The Impossible” slyly pulls from Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady”) litter the album. Which is mainly why the trio work of Mariah, Tricky and Dream work so well together.
There are points where you notice the writing and productions style get similar to previous collaborations between the two. “Candy Bling” is merely a reworking of “I Luv Ur Girl,” a favorite from The Dream’s debut album, Love/Hate, while some might confuse “It’s A Wrap” with Electrik Red’s sleeper, “9 to 5″ from their first studio album, How to Be A Lady: Volume 1. But Carey and Dream’s pen cleverly masks the recycling process.
And as usually, the album drags ever-so-slightly towards the end, after the reprise of the bouncy rumored next single, “♫ Up Out My Face.” The ballads, minus “The Impossible” (posted above) get a little syrupy for my taste, and Mariah reverts back to her old fantasy world, returning to corny titles like “Angel’s Cry.”
All in all, Mariah churned out a solid effort that will have her fans’ tails wagging and keep people interested enough to wonder what it is that she’ll do next.
♫ OTHER TRACKS YOU’VE GOT TO HEAR: “Betcha Gon’ Know,” “H.A.T.E.U.,” and “Ribbon.”






117 Comments
COMMENT PAGES: « 1 [2] Show All
76.
CROWE
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
id so do mariah carey and have her hit high notes all night
77.
King_lee
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Im a little confused—why are all these mariah fans down talking her vocal performances like she hasnt had any great albums since butterfly. I mean grant it glitter and charmbracelet began mariahs downfall but she definitly was still hittin them notes all throughout those albums…emancipation of mimi was a wonderful comeback and shows that she still has it—E=MC2 was pretty disappoointing but it still had a few highlights…now this album is a little watered down but it is still a really solid effort—wat everyone needs to understand is mariah is in a different place than she was when she recorded those other albums…and wat does whitney houston have to do with anything????
78.
CROWE
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
@ ace
your a total f_a_g
so next you’ll tell us your getting seed from Omarian, Chris stokes, B2Gay, ga_yass trey songz and his boyfriend punk drake
get a life homo
79.
Lamb101
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Mariah’s Lambs/fans are crazy. first they want her to sing until her throat falls out and then they want her to be number one on the rnb and pop charts and sound like everyone else.
why not do us a favor LAMBS SHUT UP
mariah’s cd is understated and fun and cute and thought provoking
i dont like her cinderalla white girl acting self but i actually think this is one of her best cds.
THE LAMBS MAKE ME SICK
80.
Lola
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
I still dont see how someone could confuse it’s a wrap with electrik red’s 9 to 5. They sound pretty different to me but hey wat do I know…
81.
lISA
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
i CANT WAIT TO H.A.T.E. U
OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
82.
rose fan
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
this is a deep cd
mariah is really getting in with this one
i lived her story of the first song. IN MY BED WTF?
83.
belinda
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED IN WHITNEYS COMEBACK CD, HATED BEYONCE’S WHITE GIRL CROSSOVER CD AND I THOUGHT MARIAH HAD FALLEN TO.
BUT I ACTUALLY LIKE THIS CD, ITS REALLY A LAIDBACK THNIKING WOMANS CD
STANDING O REMINDS ME OF SINGLE LADIES
84.
ATL'S FINEST
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
NOT MANY VOCAL HIGHPOINTS LIKE YOU’D EXPECT WHICH TO ME IS SO OVER THE TOP AND KIND OF DRAGQUEEN DIVA LIKE
BUT THIS CD IS DIFFERENT, ITS SEXY, DARK, FUN AND SHE FINALLY SEEMS LIKE SHES COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO JUST BE HERSELF
TOMMY MUST BE SOMEWHERE IN A CORNER CRYING
MARIAH FINALLY IS A BLACK WOMAN
85.
dafinestgrl
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
ITS EXPECTED. BUT I LIKE IT
86.
CHINA GIRL
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
OK GIRLS
YES I’M SO FEELING THIS CD, FINALLY A B*&&^TCH DELIVERS
BEYONCES CD ————–WEAK
WHITNEY HOUSTON —————–HORRIBLE
JANET JACKSON —————YAWN (WRITE YOU OWN SONGS AGAIN)
KERI HILSON - PLEASE DONT SING LIVE AGAIN
MARIAH CAREY - LIKE THIS CD ALOT —– OH OH OH STANDING OH
87.
ASAI
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
all i got to say is
BOY HERE IS YOUR STANDING O,
READ HIS TAIL GIRL
88.
musicmogul
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
why are people so hard on her? yall act like she put this together in 2 days just to be doing something. she put her all in the album just like she has with all her albums and for a woman who has been belting out big notes for almost 20 yrs, what else do u expect? and also, why do people say the last half of the album “lags”… “The Impossible” (and it’s reprise) is a great song that doesnt call for a huge voice. “More than Just Friends” is just like “Ribbon” so if u like that, then why not “…Friends”? “Angels Cry” is the best song she’s made since forever and it has that “voice” that the public so desperately want to hear from her. “Languishing” and “I Want to Know…” are good songs also.
and will the “public” make up ya damn minds.. back in the day people would critize her for oversinging. now that she calmed it down, they saying she cant sing….
at any rate, i think it is a good solid album one of my favs from her and i hope she continues to make good music.
one thing i do agree with that someone said earlier is… never do an entire album with The-Dream again… and bring JD back next time around lol… LOVE YA MIMI
PS. make a baby with Nick next yr then come back in 2011 with a hot album… that means GET PREGGO NOW MIMI! LMAO
89.
UPTON
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
all my gay friends are loving standing o and its a wrap and the interludes. this chick that we like is C O M I N G for mrs. beyonce carter. HARD.
watch your lacefront wig beyonce. Mariah is giving us face and attitude and we like
90.
leonarules
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
FLOP.
91.
leonarules
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
only tired pathetic queens are into this has-been now. that’s why she doesn’t sell anymore.
92.
whoriahwho?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Whitney’s album already slayed this ASSterpiece. time for mariah to go sit down somewhere and act her age.
93.
wtf
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
exactly why is beyonce’s name on here?!
yaw kill me with your comparisons. mariah and her are NOT on the same level wtf
94.
keith
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
omg i love her cd!!! just got it this morning at 730!!wootwoot we love you mimi, and i also bought it on itunes:) you are very talented:) you deserve the best, and btw….half the people i know that purchased whitney houstons album tried to reutrn it..she only has about 3 songs that are worhty the rest are shitballs!i believe it was purposely..and mariah you know you will surpass that heiger, dont let her get to you..although i like whitney..(80’s)
95.
justify
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Mariah can’t sing sorry!
96.
Isabel
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
I have been playing this album NON STOP since I got the leaked copy. I can’t even decided which song I like better. Seriously, the lyrics are so catchy and so real. I’m waiting to go to the stores tonight to buy my CD because I want to see how much she has sold. I have already purchased two digital copies.
97.
el
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Solid effort. H.A.T.E.U. is da standout imo
98.
AllNightDontStop09
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Note to some of the comments if you want early Mariah go COP her earlier albums
this new album is so damn hawt I love every single track besides her current singles
H.A.T.E.U
Angel Cry
Up Out My Face
Its A Wrap
The Impossible
this hard knocks big time
99.
AllNightDontStop09
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
#91 Shut the fuck up you sound dumb as hell
100.
Ditto
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
She plagiarized 2NE1 in one of her songs..
101.
Trevez
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Sure I grant that Mariah’s album flows better than whitney’s did, but Whitney was definitely better. But the Memiors is way better than E=MC2. My favorite songs are H.A.T.E.U., The Impossible, Angels Cry, Betcha Gon’ Know, and Ribbon. But on a side note, I think its tired that we keep down talking how these singers can’t sing. Their getting older and their voices are not going to be the same like when they were in their twenties. No one is complaining about Barbara and the rest of those divas who keep putting out albums.
102.
Quart
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 /
Bought it, love it!
103.
backingbarack
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
i keep trying to convince myself that mariah is not a porn star.
she is too old to be dressing like that and she just presents her self as classless and tacky.
104.
Sarkazm
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
@ Ace…..not sure what world you live in. That will be all.
Mariah’s tracks go hard….I wish she would give the other chicks in the game a chance to catch up….(sales wise).
105.
Sarkazm
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
And I’m an avid Beyonce, Brandy and Fantasia fan. I’ve recently given into my love for Alicia….but Mariah sales are rediculous.
106.
Kath
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
This is album is great if you like real r&b music! This is for her fans and that’s why I respect her for not doing pop flavored music like Whitney or Beyonce!
107.
MYYAAA
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
I CANT STOP PLAYING “UP IN MY FACE”!!!
“IF YOU WERE TWO LEGO BLOCKS, NOT EVEN THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2010 COULD PUT US BACK TOGETHER AGAIN”<<<FIRE
THIS CD IS THE BEST CD THIS YEARRRR!!
108.
Kalhua
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
I completely agree with Dude-N-Htown, the songs on the album are “lulla-buby-ish”…sing-a-song types with no depth or range…in fact those who know Mariah way back would agree that this will appeal to her newer younger fans but older fans want that voice back and they’ve done sumthing on that voice with instrumants and some technical arrangements that seem to “HIDE ” IMPERFECTIONS e.g that she cant blow like she used to, on “vision of love” or “anytime you need a friend”..so what she can do is just squick or whisper over safe ear friendly arrangements..in fact the way she throw her famous “voice whistle”(donno what u call it she did it best on “emotions” ) she is just trying to tell us its still there but come on…IF SHE CAN STILL BLOW it then they should have given her that chance , and she should have come up with a serious adult ballad or two ) instead of opting for teen-safe sound..(she almost manages to showcase the voice..with “I wanna know what love is”..which is a COVER.anyways.and that means she got lazy.I’m really dissapointed…I WISH SHE COULD GO BACK TO TOMMY MOTOOLA instead of trying to stay twelve year old with a 28yr old…I frankly cant see myself attending her concert and listening to her perfom these word-count type of songs that are full of street-hyped expressions and disses inf act she’s reminding me of R.Kelly who doesnt want to accept his age
AT LEAST WHITNEY WAS HONEST..1STLY.she confessed that Clive Davis pulled her out when she didnt think she could do it..2ndly She is singing from the heart because we can tell that her voice has seen some troubles and she aint trying to hide it with technical arrangemnts and autotunes and whatever else money can buy..and thirdly she obvioulsy sings with no care about being reviewed, which results in a honest singing with no hysterics and gimmicks like a well worn t-shirt…(even thought the songs are not that great)
109.
» RANDOM PICS: MARIAH CAREY LEAVING HER HOTEL + PROMOTING NEW PERFUME // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM' - QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
[...] new album, Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel, is currently in stores now. Check out our review here. .gallery { margin: auto; } .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; [...]
110.
Josh
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
I LOVE U MARIAHHHH SHE IS ON FIRE ONCE AGAIN!!!!!! YALL LOSERS THAT ARE HATIN….LET ME SEE U BELT OUT DEM OCTAVES…LET ME SEE U DO IT BETTER..U HATTIN WHORES….
111.
DominicanChild
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
This girl is B A D!!!! I LOVE HER! I’m definitely getting her album, and no downloads; I always support her.
112.
CrackISwhack
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
I don’t know what crack you people are on or maybe its a testament to the amazing talent that Mariah has for you all to say her voice is gone. Granted her voice isn’t at it’s peak even a diminished Mariah is a greater singer then most people. If you listen to angels cry the last belt at the end is old school vocal power.
The funny thing is at the start of Mariahs career they labeled her with “over singing” which basically faulted her for having a powerful voice and being able to do vocal acrobatics and when time brought her voice down a notch or two all of a sudden they want the old Mariah back. People use to complain that they hate when she is “yelling at the top of her lungs” now that she mixes it up they say she “whispers”. Damn people aren’t ever happy.
This woman has an amazing talent for melody but no one ever appreciates that. Take any Mariah song and any beyonce, whitney, christina song and actually compare the melodies and the ability to glide up and down the scale with ease and you would appreciate Mariahs talent. Where as most singer flatline when they sing this is a woman who is able to do richter scale singing all the while sounding cohesive and melodic.
I’ve come to realize that human nature is sick. People would find fault with perfection for being perfect.
113.
LilmissDiva
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
This album was a total disappointment! She not even signing she sound like she is talking. Maybe it is time for her to chill out and have a family!
114.
KAYBEEZ
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
I guess it’s just me but I did not like any of the songs above posted. Her voice does not sound the same.
115.
I hate haters
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 /
why are ppl so critical…MCs CD is fiyah!!! all of the songs. she is still richer, prettier, and skinner than most you that are hating…POOOOOWWWW
116.
G
Friday, October 2, 2009 /
I got the CD the first day it came out! I LUV LUV LUV LUV it! All the songs on there are GREAT! they could have left off all the remixes of Obessed. You go MC. FAN 4 LIFE!
117.
G
Friday, October 2, 2009 /
I got the CD the first day it came out! I LUV LUV LUV LUV it! I am listening right now to. ” Up out my face” MC fan 4 Life! It is much better than so of the crap that is out there now! MC is for the grown and sexy and not for the youngsters!
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