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.
I need to go pick up the album. I’ve already previewed it and it’s very good. MJB never disappoints!
MJB new album is “thetruth.com…
I would have to agree with comment #35. I’ve been saying that for years. Mary would shine on some Jazz and Blues. I love her voice and her writing skills. However, some of these producers sound the same.
Mary is bringing it as always on this album….when I first started listening I was thinking she’s doing mostly up tempo songs but then I heard love…..I’m loving this album…..ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!!!!
This album is worth ur money and if ur funds are TIGHT…hit up Target…it will cost u 9.99+tax…lol…but real talk…it’s a really good album
Wow!!! How old are twelve “sigh”? Only some who is obviously not a fan of hip hop or urban music would say that! Please you REALLY need to fall back playa!..lol.. “Take away Mary’s title”?…lol… hilarious!!! “Big von” we are Seeing Eye to eye! sigh please don’t give your opinion on music anymore cause you apparently don’t know what your talkin about
IM GLAD THAT THE ALBUM IS UPBEAT…BECUZ HER PROMO PICS ARE TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY
Can’t wait to get it
I dowloaded the album the other day and i LOVE it!
i’m def gonna be coppin it 4 real today.
I am mad that “stronger” and Gonna Make it” w Jaz Sullivan aren’t on there.
What makes Stronger with Each Tear a slightly distinct variation on the same album Mary J. Blige has been re-recording since 2001′s No More Drama is a glut of guest appearances by rappers and producers including T.I., Rodney Jerkins, and Drake. The focus on her predominantly very young collaborators pulls focus from Blige, who has never been one for sharing the spotlight, but it also serves to liven up some of the most pedestrian material the singer has recorded in years. Auto-Tuned lead single “The One,” featuring Drake, has already proven divisive among Blige’s die-hard contingency, but it’s ultimately no worse than any of Blige’s trademark “swagger” songs ever have been, and it’s one of the better tracks here. “Hood Love,” featuring Trey Songz, is a frankly desperate attempt at maintaining street cred that Blige has already proven many times over and which, as a strident bit of youthful posturing, comes across as badly dated. The protracted metaphor of “Kitchen” uses some embarrassing rhymes and awkward images that can’t be masked by a strong melody and a terrific gospel piano backing. Blige, as always, does her damnedest to sell every clichéd platitude and mixed metaphor, but she’s only intermittently successful in that regard. “Each Tear” is one of her less insufferable sermons, but there’s just no meat to “I Love U” and “I Feel Good” to justify her bluster. Even more unfortunate is that the album-closing “I Can See in Color” is a powerful song given a stripped-down, retro-soul production from Raphael Saadiq, but Blige’s frequent problems with pitch control mar what should have been the album’s finest moment. Instead, the song is just indicative of the larger problem with Stronger: None of the elements that actually work ever manage to do so at the same time.
@ 65
Excuse me? Do you know what Hip-Hop/Soul music sounds like? Are you retarded? Mary hasn’t produced a soul album since…since I don’t know when! Every album of hers since early 2000′s has been weaker..more popish than the previous. That’s not an opinion..honey it’s factual. You may love the transformation, but I don’t. I just hate that Mary carries around this title of ‘Queen of Hip-hop and Soul’, yet continues to make pop music. GTFOH
mary has fallen way off…..she’s a “recording artist” “pop artist” not a r&B singer….she’s made enuff money….WHY NOT COME BACK TO HER ROOTS. You’re older now….give it up to the younger generation and do u. You’ve been milking the “depressed” “sorrowful” image for years now…give it up. and keep it real real
gr8888888888888
hiphopblog.com
Huge MJB fan. Album is just ok, her last cd was FYIAH..But i will say #1 Tonight is my favorite since i am related to E. Birdsong whose music has been poppin up on quite a few artist albums lately. Kanye – Stronger, Eryah Badu – Promise, and now MJB.. Not a bad cd Mary, but better luck next time..
It has taken me a week to get through the CD. I don’t feel like it is an album that is true Mary. The beginning of the CD sounds as if she is reading the lyrics and just singing..no feeling just work. I LOVE “I FEEL GOOD” by the chorus on this song she is MARY! The One should have been DAWN’s song from Dirty Money…it would have been perfect. …..It is an OK CD. I think the CD has left a lot of room for her to add to the songs in a live performance.
loveeeeeeee the CD ‘ kitchen is Hot ‘ I love u ( yes i du ) is hott .. good album Mary is the queen respect it or get lost !!!!!!!