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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
"I'm talkin' 'bout things I know," Mary J. Blige wails on "Work That," the second single and opening track of Growing Pains. The album squeaked into 2007 too late to make best-of lists but otherwise would have stormed its way up several, for sure. She needn't have hit us with such a pronouncement: In 16 songs that ring as remarkably, unflinchingly true as those on 2005's landmark The Breakthrough, the queen of hip-hop soul keeps "keeping it real" a specialty. There's no sense in trying to assign credit for the skin-tight grooves and funked-up retro vibe here; with nine producers padding Blige's emotion-rich voice and the lyrics she so obviously lives by, what we're left with is a melange of sounds. But it's a measure of an artist who has mastered her own identity and left nothing to chance that this, her eighth studio album, comes off so free of wild cards and loose edges. "You ask what love feels like," she sings on "What Love Is," one of the disc's less fierce tracks. "It feels like joy, and it feels like pain, and it feels like sunshine, and it feels like rain," she continues, answering the question. The album feels the same way, a passel of complex feelings all wrapped up in love. No one knows struggle, heartache, and triumph over mediocrity like Blige. --Tammy La Gorce
Review
With 40 million record sales and a whole lot of ups and downs behind her, it's somewhat comforting to finally hear an album from the queen of hip hop soul that finds her... happy. But don't worry, as soon as you get to track two, Grown Woman, she's back to marking out her edgy fighting stance; proving she's certainly lost none of that raw toughness that made us love her in the first place. One thing's for sure, Mary's still keeeping it real.
Lead single Just Fine cements the happy feeling with its up for it party vibe and Mary confidently declaring that "this joint right here makes me wanna... wooo!" While nothing quite lives up to the dancefloor groove of 2001's Family Affair, Work That shows she's lost none of her empowering emotion when creating a dance beat.
It's no surprise that one of the best r & b vocalists of our generation, can pull in the heavyweights: Usher guests on the predictable Shakedown, and Ludacris pops up on Work That. There's also production work from the very best including The Dream, Dre & Vida and Stargate, though nine separate production teams is considerably less than the 16 on her previous album, The Breakthrough. Ne-Yo penned three songs, the best of which being the dark string tinged Fade Away, and even Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes write and produce the warm disco-funk of Till The Morning.
Mary's always kept her head and heart despite her stellar rise and, unlike some fellow divas, has no need for elaborate vocal embellishments to get her message across. Mary's cool, clear soulful voice has always worn its emotions in the open. We've grown up hearing about Mary's pains with addictions and love and, while she may have more peace of mind (and cash) continuing to share her life with her fans marks this album and woman as one of the sincerest of the genre. --Talia Kraines
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply a beautiful piece of work,
By Cooldude (London) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Growing Pains (Audio CD)
It's rare you get hooked on a CD on the first listen but this is one
of those. With so many RnB artists coming out today it is so hard to find one which stands head and shoulders above others. This is one of them. Track after track I was constantly hitting the repeat button. Mary's experiences and maturity definitely shines through on this album. Without a doubt much thought went into the production of this material. Very nice music and musical arrangments as well as very meaningful lyrics.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome *****,
By
This review is from: Growing Pains (Audio CD)
If you are not sure whether or not to get this..... please GET IT. !! i havnt bought a MJB album for a few years and was not dispappointed. she delivers on every song.. everytime i play it I have a different favourite song.. althougn Stay Down and Fade away are very very good :-)
get it, listen, and enjoy!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Track Storms Along,
By
This review is from: Growing Pains (Audio CD)
This is a great album. Mary J. Blige has reached a real maturity, both vocally and in the quality of the instrumental arrangements. Just buy this alabum.
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