For Mariah Carey and her legion of Lambs, today is the day.
Almost five years have passed since the diva’s last LP hit stores and seven since she released a commercially successful effort. However, today sees the 44-year-old make a bid to reverse her fortunes with the arrival of her 14th studio album – ‘Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse’.
Given the dizzy heights of her star, anticipation is naturally high for the project. Yet, more than any of Carey’s past opuses, buzz for the ‘#Beautiful’ led set comes with a side-helping of caution.
After all, the album has suffered a myriad of missed release windows dating back to 2012. Then, of course, there’s the endless list of preceding singles – few of which managed to impact the Billboard Hot 100 (or the Bubbling Under Chart, for that matter). To rub salt into the proverbial wound, hope was further dashed when an exciting “surprise” roll-out was scrapped in favor of a traditional release.
Put simply, a mucky mess.
And yet, the mother of two has staged remarkable clap-back by delivering her strongest body of work since 2005 mega-seller ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’.
Boasting production from the likes of Jermaine Dupri, Mike Will, Hit-Boy, and Big Jim Wright, ‘The Elusive Chanteuse’ skilfully sews together the soulful sounds that have underpinned many of Mimi’s brightest musical moments. The result? A sonically stellar backdrop which allows “that” iconic voice to take centrestage and shine bright. Indeed, despite decades of acrobatics having shaved power off the songbird’s famed range, Mariah still possesses an unparalleled ability to soar to vocal heights that still astound.
In many ways, then, this album is “the album” her career has been in need of. The question remains, though, is it one the masses want to buy?
Let us know below whether you’ll be purchasing ‘Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse’…
That Grape Juice Top Picks
1) You Don’t Know What To Do
2) Camouflage
3) Heavenly
4) Faded
5) You’re Mine (Eternal)
***************