Nearly two decades ago Mary J. Blige released What’s the 411?, her debut album, and follow-up, My Life, both fan favorites which helped earn her Queen of Hip-Hop Soul title. In her nearly 40 years, she’s endured much but always managed to prevail, and today she releases Stronger withEach Tear, which represents who and what she is right now.
Writing much of the material and serving as executive producer alongside Johntá Austin, Mary enlists a number of musical heavyweights to help on the project including Darkchild and Stargate on the first two singles, “The One” (featuring Drake) and “I Am”, respectively.
“Tonight”, an upbeat sampling of Edwin Birdsong’s “Rapper Dapper Snapper”, is the perfect opening to the album, produced by The Runners and Akon. Hip hop’s current “It” boy Drake makes an appearance on “The One”, which includes an auto-tuned Mary and was featured in an AT&T commercial earlier this year. The Ryan Leslie-produced “Said and Done” sounds like a reject from his latest lackluster release. Fortunately, the upbeat, feel good vibe returns on the Ne-Yo-penned “Good Love” featuring T.I.
“Don’t you try to bring me down, though it’s not like you could. I feel too damn good,” Mary states on “Feel Good”, the epitome of a feel-good song and one of the album’s best. “I Am” follows, and has become Mary’s 17th top 50 debut, the most by any other female. “Each Tear” is this album’s encouragement/empowerment tune (every Mary J. Blige album has one, right?) “I Love You (Yes I Du)” sounds a little like “I’m the Only Woman” from My Life but is another album great with its sample of Billy Paul’s “Let the Dollar Circulate” and production from Polow da Don.
Mary attempts to draw in more younger listeners by including R&B’s rising star Trey Songz on the duet “Hood Love”, produced by Bryan Michael Cox. On the Tricky Stewart and The Dream-produced “Kitchen”, Mary advises, “Never let a girl cook in your kitchen,” in a metaphor-heavy track in the way of a Betty Wright classic. “In the Morning” is a great “break up to make up” song, written by APLUS, and another album standout. The album closer, “I Can See in Color”, co-written and produced by Raphael Saadiq, is a powerful blues-driven song which Mary contributed to the Precious soundtrack, which her Matriarch Records imprint recently released.
Stronger withEach Tear is one of Mary’s best albums in recent years. It’s not a perfect album, but with Mary’s strong vocals and productions from some of music’s finest, it’s better than most and offers a glimpse of the greatness to come.
Dope review J. I’d like to see more from you.
This seems like a good album. She has a lot of big names on here, let’s see what she brings
I love Mary, but this album disappointed me. Where is Alicia Keys album review?
I think the album is pretty decent, I would rank it on the scale of “growing pains”. I would say though Mary’s best album from 2000 to 2010 has to be The Breakthrough. Flawless from beginning to end.
yea i love mary but this album isnt cutting it! at all..its only about 5 songs i like on the whole thing…maybe it will grow on me..smh
I bought her album today and I think its great. I actually liked the Ryan Leslie songs, Said & Done and Closer. But I have a question, why does this blog seem to be so anti Ryan Leslie? Never anything postive to say about him. He’s a good producer and a great role model for young people being a Harvard graduate and all? I guess he’s not hood enough? So sad its bout to be 2010 and our folks still on the same superficial BS
(
#6: We’re not anti-Ryan Leslie. His first album was one of my favorite debuts of all-time, but unfortunately Transition fell victim to the sophomore slump, selling only 12,000 units its first week.
Haven’t heard the album yet, but I will pick up a few copies for x-mas gifts. Love Mary. I have been a fan from day one and I am riding with her through each tear.
@ Fran, I was thinking the same thing, why no “The Element of Freedom” review, but this site put her and out shopping with Swizz. Concreteloop is starting to turn me off.
Anyway, this is about Mary so I will cop the album without listening.
J, you are too funny! …you called R.Les song a reject from his latest album…too funny!
Im coping the cd. This is grown folk music right here. She always bring it.
I purchased my copy this morning and I must say, she delivers.
Mary seems to get better with time. Her voice is in excellent shape and is reflected all over this album…. I rate it as an A-
This album is pretty good. It’s not her best work but it’s wayyyy better than past albums since she has gotten in a more upbeat spirit. I hope the next one is just that classic album that puts her back on the map like her early days!
she is doing the best that they are allowing her to do in this industry…. quesiton… is it me or does polow the don do a lot of sampling other peoples tish and then try and take credit for it…. real producers don’t have to sample!!!! jeez!!! study what you do then do what you study!!!!!
This album is tight! “I FEEL GOOD”, I LOVE U(YES I DO) ARE THE BEST R&B SONGS I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.
The best albums made, are the ones that have the pain, you know when the artist at the present time is going thru the most BS. Mary’s not going thru that same BS. SO her albums are going to be differnt, differnt spirit, differnt sound. I love everything she puts out. It is so cool, that the old artist are coming back out giving us real music without all of the hype and coochie poppin everywhere. Love the songs MARY J.
THe album is good. I love “kitchen”, Each Tear, I am. This is a very solid effort from Mary. But when has she ever put out garbage? NEVER. Im feeling this album. BUY IT!!!
why is she always comin out with some title about hurt or pain? Dang! K-C was THAT BAD?
#8 BLACKSTAR
Oh well, it’s their website I guess. But I thought this website was supposed to be mostly objective. On topic, I heard Kitchen is going to be the next single.
Good Love and In the Morning are the good ones
#16 FRAN
I HOPE “KITCHEN” or “HOOD LOVE” are the next singles. Kitchen is as real as it gets.
#16 Shut the fuck up bitch, K Ci is NOT the only man that Mary has dated you dumb fuck and he didn’t do NOTHING to her, they were more friends than lovers. So speak on what you know dumb faggot, you only know what the media tell your stupid ass.
Anyhoo, the album is GREAT! It’s a CLASSIC, from front to back, if you are bitter and STUCK in the past then you need to go live in the 90′s and see how far you get ahead in life, Mary is about change and progress, you animals are still STUCK in poverty and wanting her to sing about pain and other things that NOBODY can relate to these days, Mary is a HAPPILY MARRIED WOMAN, if you not married or in a relationship, then you need to shut the fuck up and stop TRYING to criticize her new music, what artist sings about the same shit forever? Grow up assholes and get your shit together and listen to Mary, because she is a PRIME EXAMPLE of a woman who has overcome pain and now she is celebrating joy and happiness. Didn’t you get the memo dummies? All she ever wanted to be was Happy and to find a love thats her and it would be so sweet, she found it and she is content, NOTHING NOBODY can do about her, she is here to stay FOREVER and will go down in history as one of the GREATEST SOUL SINGERS OF ALL TIME!
Her album is pretty good.
I love Mary J. Blige! This cd is awesome! As far you guys looking for A. Keys reviews, try her official fan site. Furthermore, if A. Keys don’t want pictures of her and her married man on different gossip sites, she should not be with him. lol Besides, if it is okay, with you, than why be offended by this site posting them?
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! I’m listening to it right now and loving it. I’m a die-hard Mary stan, so I’m sure many of you would say I’m biased, but this is an excellent cd. One of her best I will put it in top 5…(up there with 411, My Life, Breakthrough, Growing Pains). Great work MJB. I love you!!
I miss Mary’s music from the 90′s and early 00′s same with Janet Jackson 80′s 90′s and early 00′s.
tight album, but NOT near the brilliance of The Breakthrough.
The CD is sounds like a nice effort from “The Queen Of Hip-Hop/Soul”. I lke it.
It’s decent. Better than half the shit out here nowadays..
Mary is still strong for those of us who love her swag. No outside supporters necessary! And, she was stellar on that “Christmas in Washington” show last night. She and Usher are the new Stevie and Alicia! Barack and Michelle loved it.
Mary needs more drugs in her life- her songs are now wack!!!!!!!
@ 21- U are taking this thing a little too personal- for someone that couldnt even wipe Mary’s ass- LMAO
She will never know u- let alone defend you behind some bull shit- sooooo- booooo go home – lol
30. Starr Quality, your suggestion for “more drugs” is wack! Mary will own the Winter with this CD. If you don’t like “In the Morning”, you don’t know R&B. And, “We Got Hood Love” belongs to us. Those jams can’t be understood by the casual listener. OMT, don’t be suprised if “Color” gets nominated Best Soundtrack for The Motion Picture Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire.
Star u need a good ass whooping cuz somebody didnt do they job raising u. Mary 4 life. Get used to it.
Dear Mary, I would love to hear you do a jazz single, blues or gospel. I know it’s not as commercial as what you are doing know, but you definitely have the voice and the style to pull it off.
WHERE IS ALICIA KEYS REVIEW … ?????
@ 31 – I think you missunderstood what #21 was saying. She sounds like a Mary J. fan. Her comments were for #17 (not #16 who was only making a joke about K-Ci). So really, y’all got $#!T all screwed up on this one. It’s difficult to do a battle of the minds with so many unarmed opponents.
I didn’t like the album. Usually Mary delivers but on this album she should have taken a safer approach and just added more tracks since there were too many fillers…”Said And Done,” “I Can See In Color,” and her new single “I Am.”
I think the album is pretty good. I however really enjoyed “Growing Pains” a little more. It was just a very creative and fun mixture of R&B past and present. She kinda followed the same formula with this one, like how the songs sync into each other. But she has a couple more “younger audienced” songs on this one. She is trying to stay current despite her age like Mariah. She could have went with a different title though, “Color” to me could have been replaced with “Stronger,” not saying “Color” isn’t good, but it sounds like a theme from ROOTS. You would think with the album’s title, “Stronger” would be on the album, but whatever. “Kitchen” could have been replaced with something else, leave that comicry to Dream, Mary. Key tracks are “Tonight,” “The One,” “Good Love,” “We Got Hood Love,” and “In The Morning.” Despite it’s quality, just don’t be surprised if the album doesn’t climb up the charts too quickly, because promo wise-it’s been on the slump side this year. And with Alicia’s successful album release barely a week ago, she has tough competition. But on a side note, if you haven’t gotten it yet, go download it from Amazon MP3 today 12/21, cause it is ONLY $4, and you get two extra tracks. What a steal!
I have been a Mary fan since day one, she never lets me down music wise.
Where is the article on Alaina Reed Hall passing away?!?!?!?!!???????????????
J.Dakar yes very good review thank you.
Can’t wait to hear the new album.
Thanks J Dakar very nice review. Keep up the hard work! Thanks Angel and CL
im tired of mary singing about the same damn thing. sing about something happy. find other material.
she is one dumb depressed cookie. did she ever wonder how to read?
wow @ backbarack yall people r so mean but get star struck whe u see a famous person. but to say she is depressed have u heard the album?? sayin mary cant read whoa! she can but even if she couldnt her ass can sign them checks go Mary the album is hot bitchboobye to all the haters
So…..the song ‘Stronger’ she did with CB is not on the album? Somebody clue me in! I don’t get it? I could have sworn it was the title track for the album initially. Did she remove the song and then change the title to ‘Stronger With Each Tear’ after Breezy’s DV incident? That was actually the main reason why I wanted to get the album cause of that song. I really wasn’t feeling too much else on the album.
Ok, well I BOUGHT the CD and is sittitng here listening to it right now. I love it from begining to end. SSOOOO for the ppl that didnt BUY the album (does your opinion matter?) fall back please..lol.. Im happy about the CD but “Good Love” is my soooonnngggg…lol… make me wanna hit the club up one good time…lol
best song i love u ( yes i do ) the beat is amazing !!!!! i love mary music i have nothing bad to say
domo = homo STFU!
Thumbs up. MJB’s vocals have always been impressive. I can’t hardly remember her promoting her ‘Growing Pains’ albums in the UK though. She needs to do so with this album.
Wow Mary cd was great ull must pick up this cd i love it ………..
For Mary to be the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul’, why have all her albums been pop inspired? Mary no longer deserves that title. The album was ok. Nothing exceptional in my opinion.
So, does Brian no longer do music reviews? Lmao! I guess he got tired of the bashing that CL bloggers gave him
GREAT ALBUM. PRODUCTION WISE, IT’S NOT AS GOOD AS THE BREAKTHROUGH AND GROWING PAINS. BUT VOCALLY..THIS IS THE BEST MARY HAS SOUNDED IN YEARS! GREAT SONGS! I DOWNLOADED MINES FROM ITUNES AND GOT A FEW BONUS TRACKS. “BRAND NEW” IS THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM AND IT’S A BONUS! LOL
AND TO THE GUY WHO SAID THAT SHE SHOULD SING ABOUT SOMETHING HAPPY, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVENT HEARD THE ALBUM, BECAUSE ITS A VERY UPBEAT ALBUM. THERE ARE NO SAD SONGS ON THIS ALBUM, IT’S ALL POSITIVE AND HAPPY SONGS! SO HUSH IF U DONT KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU! =)
@SIGH..U R AN OFFICIAL DUMMIE…TAKE MARY TITLE AWAY..WHEN IT WAS INVENTED FOR HER?…DO NOT EVER SAY THAT DUMB SHIT ALOUD…POP INSPIRED IS NOT A PHRASE…U INSPIRE POPULAR CULTURE…IT DOES NOT INSPIRE YOU…AND TO THE PERSON THAT SAID TAKE” KITCHEN ” OFF THIS ALBUM..U MUST HAVE NEVER HEARD A GOOD MARY RECORD IN YOUR LIFE…KITCHEN IS THE BEST THING ON THIS “FOR THE MASSES” ALBUM AND GROWING PAINS WAS A MUCH BETTER ALBUM THAN BREAKTHROUGH…BETTER SONGS…MORE SOUL
EVERY CHICK IN THE GAME SHOULD JUST CALL “DREAM” RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THERE MUZIK SHOULD SOUND LIKE….KITCHEN IS A BANGER….
Mary have a varitey of sound from all typees of music on this album if u havent heard it dont speak on it its atrue classic
I purchased her CD yesterday via ITUNES and I love it! Bigs UP, I been a fan since whats the 411 and will not stop. Your music represents who you are and that is why your fan base will always be big! It doesnt matter if these BUBBLE GUM BRAINWASHED babys of the late 80s and 90s get you or not, your true fanz have been there since day 1!
Keep it moving!
HOW DARE ANYONE HATE ON MARY J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE HAS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS ALMOST AS LONG AS SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE IS A QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHOW HER THE RESPECT SHE DESERVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HER VOICE IS MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE GIVES US MUSIC WE CAN RELATE TO AND FEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE IS A STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST LOOK HOW GREAT SHE LOOKS IN THAT PIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST FLAWLESS WITH PERFECT BONE STRUCTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE MARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT’S HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just listened to the whole album on rhapsody.com and i love it. Mary been holding it down for years keeping up with the music trends and fashion. I adore you Mary. This is proof of getting it in for 2010!
I Love every second! Kitchen needs to be heard worldwide for all the Chickenheads! Said and Done is that knock! I downloaded my pre-order edition on yesterday. Lovely!