Customer Reviews

20 Y.O.

5 star:		(149)
4 star:		(64)
3 star:		(46)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

This is by far the best album Janet has put out since The Velvet Rope. This is also the best album put out within the last 5 years. This album puts Beyonce, Christina, and Justin to shame. The original Diva is back and all her followers need to bow down.

Let's be honest, this isn't a classic Janet Jackson CD. When put next to earlier cds such as 'Rhythm Nation' and 'Velvet Rope" or even 'All For You', it seems like she's honoring her 20 years as a music star by going in a completely different direction. '20 Y.O.' has a selection of songs that remind you of something a 20-something year old music star today would be doing. Perhaps that's because Jermaine Dupri has steered her in this direction with a sound that sounds a bit beneath her. Gone are the real classic hits and tunes we'd expect from Janet and in there place are rather commercial R&B and pop songs without that true Janet touch.

That being said, '20 Y.O.' is still enjoyable once you accept it as something new and it's own cd. The first five songs on the cd are true dance. "So Excited" is the first real upbeat Janet song we've gotten in a while. It does sort of have an old-school sounding beat to it that helps it stand out as a track and single. "Get It Out Me" is in some regards pure 80s and perhaps one of the best tracks on the cd. It reminds you a bit of LL Cool J's "Lose Control" and Janet's vocals are pretty good on that. "Show Me" is laid back and continues this retro-dance feel and perhaps showcases Janet's voice the best on the cd. "Do It 2 Me" is another interesting song that's sort of muddied at the start with Jermaine Dupri inserted his voice and vocals or rapping style into the mix, as he seems to do with a lot of songs he produces (he appears or intrudes in numerous songs on Mariah's "Emancipation of Mimi"). The song is setup to be a sort of naughtier, sexed up, dance driven sequal to "I Get Lonely" and she pulls it off well.

I'd say by the second intro, the CD goes from being upbeat and good to just being okay. The tracks lose the dance feel, they sort of lose the retro sound and upbeat manner and for the most part go into a laid back groove state. "With U" is a ballad of sorts that's really nice, "Enjoy" is Janet encouraging the listeners to just sit back and enjoy what life has to offer, "Daybreak" is the well produced song that sounds as if it could easily have fit in on an early 80s Janet cd. The rest of the songs don't stand out, the intros don't add a thing to the songs but unecessary breaks and pauses in the music.

In all, the CD was good. I'd say as a whole it's a stronger release than "Damita Jo". As for it being a sort of tribute or celebration of her 20 years as a musical star ... it seems to do that by attempting to turn her music and sound into an imitation of what's popular today, and that isn't appealing or necessary. That's what makes it a bit weak because in some respects, the first five songs are the best, but they're also the ones that seem to be the least bit Janet and she sounds as if she's trying hard (too hard at times) to stay relevant and fresh instead of embracing the sounds, subjects, and lyrics of her music from the past two decades. Good, though, and worth the purchase.

Janet has been and will for ever will be one of the most iconic women in the world. Her and Madonna are probelly the two biggest female international superstars that still make great music today.

Janet really shows her fun side, instead of talking about race, empowering women, sexual orientation, and children. She states that she just wants to have fun.

She starts the album off with 5 club bangers off the bat. This women means business! So Excited (with Khia) her second single), Show Me (were she raps in the chorus and at the end of the song), Get It Out Me is just another amazing club banger. Do It To Me; which you can tell has Kanye West and JD heavily influenced beats on the track.

And the haunting rock anthem "This Body" a personal favorite on the album for me!

Then 20 YO PART 2
With U; which can be easily the best R&B song since "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey (2005) or "Trippin (That's The Way Love Works" by Toni Braxton (2005)And her first single which is cute duet with Nelly.

20 YO Part 3 - the classic JANET, and pop song

"DayBreak" which is probelly can be determined the only pop song same with "Enjoy" and maybe "With U" on the album.

"DayBreak" definity has the "Someone To Call My Lover" kinda vibe, but the beat is tens time better and so are the lyrics and vocals.

"Enjoy" is classic Janet. The Janet that we have known for these past 20 Years. Easily gonna be a favorite for those older Janet Fans.

20 YO Part 4

"Take Care" is definity the "Rope Burn" or the "Anytime, Anyplace" on the album. Really, classy sexual song. Janet really brings back the sexy slow jam on this one.

and "Love2Love" the sweet and soultry ballad. Which really brings Janet back into the "The Vevlet Rope" days. Definitly going to be another favorite!

The album definitly deserves a 5/5. This goes down in the books with the other great Janet albums!

This album is comparable to 2004's Confessions by Usher and 2005's Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah. There are several single wrothy songs, besides the two lead singles I love "Get It Out Me", "Enjoy" and "Daybreak" plus a bonus track available for download "Roll Witchu". I bet this will win the Grammy for best R&B album, and if it doesn't than it should have. I highly recoomend you go out and buy it, it's fun and it doesn't cost that much either. :)

i'm a 20 year veteran - if there were medals given for valour in the line of duty supporting this woman's artistry i would have all of them 3 times over. i've invested the time to read approximately 100 reviews of this album by googling "janet jackson," just seeing what the general reaction is. i did this, not because i don't have faith in my own opinion, but because i was so excited (excuse the pun) that she'd released an album i didn't have to force myself to like, and i wanted to see all those doubters admit that they were wrong for hatin'. i see i was overly optimistic concerning the critics. i admit, "all for you" and "damita jo" were embarrassing for me as a die-hard fan, and i was nervous about this album when i heard some of the pre-release singles... however, i was really REALLY pleasantly surprised - this album is full of catchy music, so i don't understand the "unmemorable" comments. at any rate, what i am reading online now sounds an awful lot like what i used to read about the albums "control," "rhythm nation," "janet.," and "the velvet rope." when those albums came out all the nay-sayers said her voice was weak, her tunes were forgetable, she was either too shallow or too deep, that she had little star quality, and that she was always in danger of suddenly waking up fat... those same people today call janet an icon, yet they still seem very eager to downplay her appeal. this is very shady on their part as professional reviewers, because it implies very strongly that they have no opinion of their own until they see how many copies an artist will sell - if they're so smart, why don't THEY create 5 consecutive number 1 albums and over 25 hit singles? my review boils down to this: jealous people are as biased towards the negative as fans are biased towards the positive. i am personally so completely sass-tified with this release that i have (in only 24 hours and about 10 replays of the album) forgiven miss jackson for "damito jo." it's such a fun, Fun, FUN album... people criticized janet's old style then acclaimed it years after it became successful, and i personally feel that that's what is happening all over again. janet's sound is not 20 years old, their snobbish criticisms are.

after the dissapointment of Damita Jo.Janet made up for this album.some people wont like because its strictly R&B.but i love it.Janet went back to her roots which is R&B and Dance.This album is way better than Beyonce And Timberfakes.GO GET JANET

Finally Janet has released an album which truly captures everything she is about. Whilst 'All For You' and 'Damita Jo' were by no means bad albums, they just often seemed too uneven and unfocused. However, after one listen to '20 Y.O', I could honestly say that every song on this album works, and it never comes across as being self-indulgent (All For You) or rushed. This is an album which has enough jams to get the blood pumping, with an equal amount of tracks for those quiet late nights.

Highlights:

So Excited:
This should definately have been the lead single, as it is hot!! Khia adds a nice touch to this song, as it's beat and lush vocals will transport you into the zone.

Show Me:
This song is understated and catchy, and will definately have you up and dancing by the chorus.

Get It Out Me:
WOW WOW WOW, this has got to be one of the best club songs Janet has created. The vocals on this track are very remeniscent of the Velvet Rope era, and the beat is out of this world.

This Body:
I don't know why, but this song reminds me of the brilliance of 'If', as it just has that energy that only a Janet song could have. A definate highlight of the album!

Daybreak:
This song pays homage to classics such as 'Whoops Now', 'Escapade' and 'Miss U Much', and janet really seems to perfectly convey the feeling of what she is singing.

Love 2 Love:
yeap, this wouldn't be a Janet album without it's fair share of baby-making songs. Fans who appreciated songs such as 'Anytime, Anyplace' and 'Would You Mind', will find much to enjoy in this sensual and beautiful track.

CONCLUSION:
Don't even think twice - just get this album into your Cd player/Ipod ASAP!!

I absolutely love this album the more I listen to it! It makes you realize that there's only one Janet and the rest are just wannabes. I was in junior high when she came out with Control and she's still doing her thing. Some of the best tracks on this album are 'Enjoy', 'Do it to Me', and 'Take Care'. Keep it up Janet, you still got it!

I find a lot of criticisms going towards this album, which are unfair, fans which are clinging to the past and wanting a repeat of what already happened. I say, thank goodness Janet isn't using the same 80's beats and has moved on to a more chill, hip-hop, or overall more evolved sound.

This album is different from her others and her voice is very calm and soothing. The ballad "Take Care" is so beautiful in melody and lyrics that I can't resist to shed a tear or two...so I guess it all boils down to individual taste and how you feel when you hear something. "Enjoy" also is beautifully laden with gems of Janet's voice and lyrics.

This release stands out above other releases out today, since she still has a unique voice and she just has aged slightly in the past few years. She is similar to Madonna in the way that fans are mocking both of their latest releases, basically complaining how their voices have changed. They're 20 years older, get over it.

Janet Jackson is such a wonderful artist. She has made such a big impact on the industry. Personally, my favorite track is "Enjoy". I love the laid back feeling. I'll admit, this album is not a "Control" or "Rhythm Nation" type album, but it does suggest the influence of "All For You". I believe that Janet has done a stellar job and I hope she'll continue to make great music.