Mary J Blige: Reflections - A Retrospective
Since her debut in 1992 Mary J Blige has established herself as one of this generation's most influential artists
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Saturday, 04, Nov 2006 05:49
In a nutshell..
Soulful, grown-up, nostalgic, streetwise, frank
What's it all about?
It has taken her a while to get there, but nine hit records and almost 15 years after Mary J Blige first burst onto the music scene with her debut album What's the 411? she finally brings us a collection of her greatest hits.
The long awaited Reflections - A Retrospective is Mary J's first release since her hugely successful December 2005 album The Breakthrough, which featured the massive selling single One on which she collaborated with Irish rockers U2. This remarkable duet was her biggest hit in the UK to date and confirmed her as one of the world's biggest selling and best-loved artists.
The album is a mini autobiographical reflection on Mary J's glorious career to date, taking the listener on an 18-track journey through her intriguing and sometimes tumultuous life, from her childhood in Yonkers, New York, through to her present day standing as the undisputed Queen of hip hop soul.
It gathers together all of Mary J's timeless hits and features four brand new tracks, the first of which is We Ride (I See The Future) featuring the collaborative writing efforts of Bryan Michael Cox and Johnta Austin, the team behind Be Without You.
Who's it by?
Since her debut in 1992 Mary J Blige has established herself as one of this generation's most influential soul, RnB and hip hop artists. A three-times Grammy award winner she has sold tens of millions of records worldwide, working with all the top talent, from Aretha Franklin to U2, and trying out a host of musical styles, all the while remaining true to her urban roots.
Born in Atlanta in 1971 and raised in Yonkers, New York, by a nurse mother and a jazz musician father, Mary was exposed to music at an early age. But her childhood was far from trouble free. Her father left when she was just four years old, leaving her mother to raise her and her sister alone. And earlier this year Mary revealed that she was sexually abused by a family friend as a child, an experience that has undoubtedly fed into her songwriting.
No one can tell a story quite like Mary J Blige, and she certainly has a story to tell. Over the last 15 years she has battled with abusive relationships, drug addiction, alcoholism and depression, and her experiences have been translated into music in a hard hitting yet poignant way.
Mary's success spans a 15-year career, from Real Love in the early 90s through to this year's hit single Be Without You. On the way she has brought us gems such as Not Gon' Cry, Family Affair, No More Drama, My Life and 911, the soulful duet with Wyclef Jean, all of which mark a special moment in her remarkable career.
As an example.
"Life can only be what you make it, when you're feeling down you should never fake it. Say what's on your mind and you'll find in time, that all the negative energy it would all cease." - My Life
"With a great track pumpin' everybody's jumpin', go ahead and twist your back and get your body bumpin'. I told you leave you situations at the door, so grab somebody and get your ass on the dancefloor." - Family Affair
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
With three Grammys already under her belt and a further 12 nominations over the years, it seems there is no stopping Mary J. This year saw her reach her highest heights so far, and this album is certain to make sure that she is not forgotten in a hurry. Another Grammy or two could well be on the way, if not in 2007 then certainly some time in the future.
"Brilliant autobiographical soul music. the most important soul singer of our time. the 21st century Aretha Franklin" - The Independent.
"Mary J Blige is America's Queen of Soul, her life story is as jaw-dropping as her voice." - Mail on Sunday
So is it any good?
According to Ron Fair, chairman of Geffen Records, Mary J Blige has reached the "defining moment of her life as a vocalist, as a songwriter, and as a human being. Her new album Reflections - A Retrospective is an essential collection of songs that solidifies Mary as one of the greatest recording artists of all time. Anyone who has ever suffered loss, experienced pain, been in trouble, gave love or been loved, can find themselves in the music of Mary J Blige."
As the top dog at Mary's record company, Fair is bound to big up her new album. But in truth his words could not be more accurate. Over the years Mary J has gone from hip hop bad girl to sophisticated soul diva, exorcising a host of personal demons along the way. Fans of her music have borne witness to this journey through her songs and grown to love her more and more as the years roll on.
Many of Mary J's fans have been with her since the very beginning, but 15 years down the line she is still adding to her following. The last 12 months in particular have seen her enjoy her biggest successes so far, scaling new creative, personal and commercial heights. Reflections - A Retrospective will both delight her devoted fans and appeal to those who have only this year been introduced to her amazing vocal ability and song writing prowess.
While songs such as One, No More Drama, Family Affair, Real Love and Not Gon' Cry stand out as some of Mary J's best-known and best-loved songs, all of the tracks on this album offer listeners something that is classic Mary J, and her new tracks blend in seamlessly making the album an easy listen. With a host of top talent thrown into the mix, including Wyclef Jean, George Michael, 50 Cent and Method Man, the album makes sure that Mary is taken as seriously as ever, not just for her powerful voice and heartfelt lyrics, but also her ability to produce a faultless tune.
9/10
Gemma Roskell