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Product Description
Review
Mary J. Blige returns like the elder stateswoman that she is with this, her ninth album, and first since 2007’s Growing Pains. Released in the States before Christmas, it rushed to number two – charting just a week after Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom, many saw its timing as instigating a direct battle of the soul divas.
For this international edition, two Led Zeppelin covers have been puzzlingly added, which somewhat corrupts the overall smooth grooving RnB flow. That said, the hugely fun, stomping electro version of Whole Lotta Love, which opens the album, certainly acts as a palette cleanser. Blige is no stranger to rock balladry after her version of One with U2, but the all-star version of Stairway to Heaven here is quite exquisite. With its full orchestra and Stevie Vai playing Jimmy Page’s solo, it’ll have some old Zep fans tearing the heads off chickens – but Blige adds a soulful gravitas to Robert Plant’s mystical lyric.
However, the Zeppelin bookends are little more than novel diversions, as elsewhere it is business as usual. Tonight is a fine atmospheric groove, and I Am is a classic Blige single: pathos, style and simplicity in equal measure. The One features Canadian rapper Drake and the requisite 2010 beeps and bleeps; although the sound of Blige going through an Auto-Tune filter is like getting Rembrandt to paint by numbers.
While producers such as Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am and Ne-Yo keep it feeling contemporary and demonstrate their considerable chops throughout, the scene stealer comes from Raphael Saadiq: Color, from the film Precious. Shorn of the tricksy effects elsewhere on the album, it is simply Blige accompanied by a mournful Hammond, an electric piano, a simple beat and some gospel backing. It is truly outstanding.
It is easy sometimes to take Mary J. Blige for granted; neither as showy or attention grabbing as some of her peers, she is adding to a body of work that is one of the strongest in RnB. Although Stronger with Each Tear may not be one of her greatest works, it ensures that Blige remains as relevant as any of her more recent contemporaries. --Daryl Easlea
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CD Description
Stronger With Each Tear is the ninth album from the "Queen Of R&B", which comes two years after her Growing Pains and once again she surrounds herself with a pool of production talent including Darkchild, Ne-Yo, Stargate and The Dream. Parts of the album have a deep, techy sound, with the track "Tonight" seemingly inspired by '90s new age acts Enigma and Deep Forest. Includes the single "I Am".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
2008's 'Growing Pains' was a great album.
Ms J. Blige's finest in a long and distinguished career.
'What Love Is' and the sublime 'Come To Me (PEACE)',
particularly the latter, were unforgettable highlights.
I had high hopes for 'Stronger' but this release is a very
different kettle of catfish. Things really don't get started
until about halfway through the recording and by then I was
already feeling more than a little disappointment.
I'm a fan you see. I really do love this woman's voice and
this is far away from the best of what she is capable.
The opening four tracks really are very lacklustre.
Things just don't catch fire. Mid-paced, middle-of-the-road
unmemorable melodies and hackneyed arrangements.
'The One', a very ordinary composition is further damaged
by guest Drake's truly dreadful rapterlude.
T.I.'s interruption to 'Good Love' is no better.
Both contributions, whilst doubtless intended to add to the
music's urban credibility, drag it down into the most
mundane and predictable of territories.
Things start looking up on track five, 'I Feel Good'.
Suddenly the voice, like an exotic flower opening,
bursts into full bloom, largely due to the fact that,
at last, she has a solid melody to hang on to.
A cracking song, beautifully sung!
'I Am' keeps us in a good place. Another strong tune
carried off with style and incandescent conviction.
The vocal harmonies are stunning.
'Each Tear' is a somewhat run-of-the-mill love song.
Nice enough in its own sweet way but hardly classic Mary.
'I Love U (Yes I Du)' is about as upbeat as things get.
A dance-friendly track with a canny hookline but the voice
sounds constrained and marred by unnecessary electronic treatment.
'Kitchen' is a cracking piece of loping R&B.
Our heroine sounds happy and at home in its company.
'Hood Love' would have been a whole lot better without the
presence of Tray Songz. His horribly affected vibrato adds
absolutely nothing to an otherwise reasonably good composition.
'In The Morning' is by-far the project's finest moment.
Heart and soul come together in a performance of credible
and genuinely hair-raising emotional intensity.
This song is, alone, worth the price of the album.
Final track 'I Can See In Color' demonstrates that The Lady
really can sing the blues! A stunning ending just in time.
A very mixed bag then. Some sublimely shiny moments sparkling
in amongst the dross. I am thankful for those small mercies.
Ms J. Blige's finest in a long and distinguished career.
'What Love Is' and the sublime 'Come To Me (PEACE)',
particularly the latter, were unforgettable highlights.
I had high hopes for 'Stronger' but this release is a very
different kettle of catfish. Things really don't get started
until about halfway through the recording and by then I was
already feeling more than a little disappointment.
I'm a fan you see. I really do love this woman's voice and
this is far away from the best of what she is capable.
The opening four tracks really are very lacklustre.
Things just don't catch fire. Mid-paced, middle-of-the-road
unmemorable melodies and hackneyed arrangements.
'The One', a very ordinary composition is further damaged
by guest Drake's truly dreadful rapterlude.
T.I.'s interruption to 'Good Love' is no better.
Both contributions, whilst doubtless intended to add to the
music's urban credibility, drag it down into the most
mundane and predictable of territories.
Things start looking up on track five, 'I Feel Good'.
Suddenly the voice, like an exotic flower opening,
bursts into full bloom, largely due to the fact that,
at last, she has a solid melody to hang on to.
A cracking song, beautifully sung!
'I Am' keeps us in a good place. Another strong tune
carried off with style and incandescent conviction.
The vocal harmonies are stunning.
'Each Tear' is a somewhat run-of-the-mill love song.
Nice enough in its own sweet way but hardly classic Mary.
'I Love U (Yes I Du)' is about as upbeat as things get.
A dance-friendly track with a canny hookline but the voice
sounds constrained and marred by unnecessary electronic treatment.
'Kitchen' is a cracking piece of loping R&B.
Our heroine sounds happy and at home in its company.
'Hood Love' would have been a whole lot better without the
presence of Tray Songz. His horribly affected vibrato adds
absolutely nothing to an otherwise reasonably good composition.
'In The Morning' is by-far the project's finest moment.
Heart and soul come together in a performance of credible
and genuinely hair-raising emotional intensity.
This song is, alone, worth the price of the album.
Final track 'I Can See In Color' demonstrates that The Lady
really can sing the blues! A stunning ending just in time.
A very mixed bag then. Some sublimely shiny moments sparkling
in amongst the dross. I am thankful for those small mercies.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a huge MJB fan, I was highly anticipating this album and after listening to some tracks of the US version (Kitchen, I Am, Stronger) I had high hopes for "Stronger withEach Tear." I decided to wait and get the UK version after promise of new bonus tracks but now I wish I hadn't.
The positives
Out of 15 tracks, I love 5: "I Feel Good," with its positive, upbeat message, current single, "I Am," love song "I Love U (Yes I Du)," lead single "Stronger" and the classic Mary track, "In The Morning."
The negatives
Whilst I loved Mary's U2 duet, "One," her rockier sounding tracks "Whole Lotta Love," "City On Fire," and "Stairway to Heaven," just aren't as good. "I Can't Wait" with will.i.am is awful, Jay Sean ruins "Each Tear" and the "I Am Remix" just isn't necessary.
The main problem is that the whole album sounds disjointed and it doesn't flow like the Stronger US version does. It definately seems like they chose a few weaker tracks that they thought the UK market would like (more Rock/Pop/Dance) and just stuck them on. If that wasn't bad enough, they omitted the best R&B tracks (Kitchen, We Got Hood Love). I would definatley recommend the US version over this one if you are a true fan of Mary.
The positives
Out of 15 tracks, I love 5: "I Feel Good," with its positive, upbeat message, current single, "I Am," love song "I Love U (Yes I Du)," lead single "Stronger" and the classic Mary track, "In The Morning."
The negatives
Whilst I loved Mary's U2 duet, "One," her rockier sounding tracks "Whole Lotta Love," "City On Fire," and "Stairway to Heaven," just aren't as good. "I Can't Wait" with will.i.am is awful, Jay Sean ruins "Each Tear" and the "I Am Remix" just isn't necessary.
The main problem is that the whole album sounds disjointed and it doesn't flow like the Stronger US version does. It definately seems like they chose a few weaker tracks that they thought the UK market would like (more Rock/Pop/Dance) and just stuck them on. If that wasn't bad enough, they omitted the best R&B tracks (Kitchen, We Got Hood Love). I would definatley recommend the US version over this one if you are a true fan of Mary.
Format:MP3 Download
i love mary but in recent times have not purchased many of her albums. i am so glad i got this one and it has made me rethink the idea of getting all her older albums too
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mary J Blige- Stronger with each Tear
Product in mint condition. Good songs on there. New vibe of music showing how Mary J is still evolving and developing as an artist. Read more
Published 17 months ago by jogumbo
Still Queen!
Mary J. proves that she is still the undisputed queen of R'n'B and soul music with this refreshing album. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Jordan C. W. Lloyd
What can I say!!
Mary J is PURE inspiration!! I dont own a Mary J albumn that I have been disappointed with, and this one doesnt disappoint either!! Read more
Published 22 months ago by LA
Shouldn't go unnoticed
Stronger With Each Tear does not disappoint those who like Mary at her more dancey, with excellent collaborations from Will.I. Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by Mr. C. D. Lander
CD
I bought this as a present for a friend's birthday. The price was very competitive and she is thrilled with it!
Published on 28 April 2010 by Mr. R. Johnson
surprise at Led Zep covers
A very good album that has the added surprises of two covers of "whole lotta love" and "stairway to heaven". Read more
Published on 27 April 2010 by A. Wellman
Wow!!!!
Just listened to the preview for this album and it is scorching!!! Her best yet. Every song is brilliant....love it
Published on 20 Mar 2010 by Mrs. R. M. Sands
I love it!!!!!!
I have been a fan of Mary J since she started with 'Whats The 911' and I am arfaid that I don't agree totally with the previous reviews. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2010 by johnnieuk1
Disappointing for fans and boring for others
I love Mary and I was waiting for this album after her great outing last time in Growing Pains which followed the even more divine The Breakthrough. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2010 by Updesh
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