There are few musical artists whom I can say that I would buy their new album without hesitation. No listen, no research, just a blind buy. There's maybe 10-20 bands/musical artists for which this is the case. Mariah Carey is not one of them.
I have loved Mariah Carey since I first heard "Vision of Love" in my living room while cleaning with my mom in 1990. Even at the age of 8, I knew soul when I heard it. Since bursting into the scene in 1990, Mariah produced several amazing albums. Thirteen albums, I belive, with unforgettable, chart-topping classics such as "Fantasy", Dreamlover", "Honey", and "All I Want for Christmas is You".
But somewhere around the end of the millinium, it seemed as though Mariah lost her way. Her voice reduced to a raspy whisper, her ego palpable in her songs, and her soul seemingly traded in for shallowness. Around this time, I also was learning about indie rock. Listening to bands like Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, I left Mariah in the dust claiming she had "sold out". Maybe she did. Maybe she was dealing with the hardship of becoming an aging diva. It must be tough when your main pop diva rival is Beyoncé. I might get a little desperate myself, if I had to compete with that.
What I am here to tell you today is that she's back. This week she released her 13th album Me. I am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse. Don't ask me what an "elusive chanteuse" is, because I don't know. But what I do know is that this album is bumpin'. She's got guest appearances from Nas, Mary j. Blige, Miguel, Wale, and what would any Mariah album be with a guest spot from Jermain Dupree. She's 15/15 good songs! That's pretty amazing. These songs take me back to her soul from the 90s, while still managing to have a modern and R&B forward flavor.
This new album is a must listen for all, especially if you're a recovering jaded Mariah fan. She will most likely croon her way back into your heart, maybe even onto your list of "artists whose albums I would buy with out hesitation".
