Customer Reviews

E=MC2 [Vinyl]

5 star:		(122)
4 star:		(50)
3 star:		(38)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

This is an excellent new album from Mariah Carey. My favorite track is "Cruise Control". I love the rapping by Damian Marley on this track. My other favorite track is I'm That Chick". It has a good groovy beat to dance to. "Side Effects" is a good jam too. I like the rapping by Jeezy on this song. "Touch My Body" is a very sensual song. It is the kind of song that makes me wish I had a girlfriend. There are also some very pretty track on this disc. Bye Bye is a very touching song. I also love the piano playing on I Wish You Well". "I Stay In Love" is a sweet love song. "Thanks For Nothing" is a good song about feeling broken hearted. I really enjoy listening to the tracks on this disc.

About a year & a half ago when I heard that Mariah was working on a new album with the proposed title of "Sweet Soul Odyssey", I was ecstatic. As a fan, of course I'd been overjoyed at the reception to and success of EMANCIPATION OF MIMI and thought that having regained her supposed lost place in the world of pop music, she'd be confident enough to produce an album of tracks like SUBTLE INVITATION, HOW I WISH U KNEW, FLY LIKE A BIRD, etc. I love those kinds of tracks from Mariah because they're unexpected - they're not hip hop and especially SI has a jazzier production than some of her recent work.

Unfortunately as the time passed I started hearing that this album would NOT be the anticipated soulful music that I'd hoped for but a replica of EMANCIPATION. I hate to compare the two albums but I have to in order to be honest about my feelings for E=MC2. From the 1st time I listened to EMANCIPATION, I loved all but 2 tracks and still to this day, enjoy listening to the album on a frequent basis but after listening to E=MC2 a few times, there are only 6 songs that I love and 4 that I think are just "ok".

This album reminds me of my feelings for her RAINBOW album - there are a few tracks that I like but overall I'm disappointed in it as a whole and skip over more than a few tracks. I feel like with EMANCIPATION, Mariah & the writers & producers worked really hard to present strong tracks and the result is an album that I love while this one seems to want to follow the same production path but with weaker lyrics and unmemorable tracks.

My favorite tracks are:

I'LL BE LOVIN U LONG TIME

CRUISE CONTROL

I'M THAT CHICK

THANKS FOR NOTHING - just wish JD wasn't "shouting out" throughout

I WISH U WELL

OOC - interesting arrangement, it's growing on me the more I listen to it

My "ok" tracks are:

MIGRATE - it's a catchy track but I really dislike T-Pain and his guest spot really doesn't add anything special

LUV STORY - I'd have liked this track more if JD wasn't screaming all over it

LAST KISS

BYE BYE - although I like the lyrics & sentiment behind the song, it just left me "cold" for lack of a better word. Mariah has written other tracks regarding the loss of a loved one that moved me to tears but this track didn't move me in any way

The only other two notable tracks are:

TOUCH MY BODY - I hate this song, truly it stays in my mind like an annoying radio jingle because it's being forced on us on all levels

FOR THE RECORD - the lyrics are really personal and once again, Mariah is letting us in on what marriage to Tommy Mottola was like but the song itself hasn't really resonated with me yet so I feel like it's TMI

As a fan of course I was excited just to get new music from Mariah, I added it to my collection because I want to have a complete Mariah catalog but I can't say that I'll ever get the same enjoyment out of listening to it say, 5 or even 1 year from now - it'll just be in my collection and I might listen to it from time to time.

I'm torn about recommending it to people so I'll just say that if u want to get it, proceed with caution & try to listen to a few clips first. I will continue to wait and hope that we will get a "Sweet Soul Odyssey" from Mariah some time in the future.

Still reaping the rewards of her success in 2005, Mariah clearly decided to come out with an JUST OK record knowing that the remnants would carry this album along from hype alone. Unlike The Emancipation of Mimi, this album lacks that "We Belong Together" type song (even though it tries to recapture it failingly).

The 1st half of the album is a skip fest, for the most part but "I Stay in Love" and "Love Story" stop it from being that entirely. This is where the bulk of the very bad and unneccesary collaborations take place;"Migrate" is a good club song (which is I guess why the lyrics leave very much to be desired)but those cheesy lyrics stop it from being a good song in general. "Cruise Control" is just a mess of a song and "Side Effects" actually would be a better song if Young Jeezy wasn't in it at all. I won't even bother discussing TMB because everyone should know that song by now.

The album's better half is clearly the 2nd part although it does have 1 giant snag in it called "O.O.C.". Some of the songs here tend to start sounding the same, which is the other downside to it.

One of the drawbacks is that Mariah's lyrics are a little too simple, verging on ridiculous for a majority of the album. The 1 thing that stops E=MC2 from being in the same realm as such lackluster albums like Glitter and Rainbow, is the fact that the bright spots are very bright indeed.

Noteable Tracks:

I Stay in Love

Love Story

I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time

Last Kiss

Thanx 4 Nothin'

The rest of the album ranges from extremely bad to JUST OK!

This album is a huge dissapointment. Mariah is capable of so much more than this. This whole album sounds like a really boring movie, similar to Glitter. There are only a few good songs on this album. One being the very curiously produced "Migrate", I can easily see this being the second single. It's another T-Pain featured track, again where T-Pain steals the show. Another one of the very few standout tracks is "For The Record" which is just a great mid tempo track where Mariah shows her true talent that we all know she has. But then this whole album goes sour, the rest of the songs on this album are very bland and boring. With "I Stay In Love" you can tell very clearly that she tried to recreate "We Belong Together" but it didnt work at all. The result is a very obvious attempt to recapture a past hit, and a overall boring song. And then i was ashamed that Mariah Carey even thought putting out "I'm That Chick" was a good idea because this song is a carbon copy of Ne-Yo's "Because Of You" and any mega Mariah fan has to even admitt that this song sounds identical to "Because Of You". "Cruise Control" is another attempt for her trying to get another big hit, but it just sounds like an incomplete song. And thats honestly how i feel about this whole album, it feels like she rushed this album or something because the songs on the album just don't mesh well together. And alot of the songs leave you with the feeling of, "Thats It???..." because you feel like the song didnt do anything to you. My overall take on this album is that its pretty much just a big mess of music that she should have taken more time to make some better songs and arrange this album better, because we all know that Mariah Carey is one of the best vocalists of our generation, i will never take that away from her, but on this album i dont feel like shes one of the best. Sorry Mariah fans, just being honest.

Grade:

D

I like Mariah Carey, but this is not one of her better efforts. There are three songs that are pretty good:

Touch My Body - Good bump 'n' grind type ballad with a strong hook - easily the best song on the album

I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time - Straight ahead Mid-tempo groove with big production, and

Thanx for Nothin

The rest of the album is made up of competent but unoriginal crunk-lite and crossover hip hop style production which is so prevalent on the radio these days. More often than not, Mariah's vocals take a back seat in these songs to the monotonous thumping beats.

"E=MC2" is another one for the record books. Songs from this album will grace radio waves deep into 2009.

In similar fashion to her unprecedented commercial comeback "The Emancipation of Mimi," 2005's highest-selling LP, Mariah Carey has crafted what both fans and casual listeners will enjoy - an album that plays like a greatest hits project, with nearly every selection having the makings of a killer hit single. Her songwriting is at its peak - deep, earthy, frisky and fun - much like Carey herself. That generation-defining voice has never sounded fuller of passion, vigor and purpose. The melodies are strong and instantly memorable, the songs perfectly sing-able even for those lacking Carey's luminous pipes.

The biggest surprise about "E=MC2" is that, aside from its being a consistently satisfying collection of unshakable pop melodies and inspiring ballads, it shares no obvious commonalities with other LPs in Carey's catalogue, including its predecessor. This may discourage those with set expectations, but further listens reveal increased treasures. This is a recording built to last.

Her lyrics are always self-effacing, but she raises the bar on "Side Effects" and the dignified closer "I Wish You Well." The former is dark and straightforward, detailing the pain of an emotionally crippling relationship with a sizzling rap from mega-talented Young Jeezy.

The latter, meanwhile, deals with the same topic in a more understated fashion. Finding solace in verses from the Bible, she rises up against persecution ("No weapon formed against me shall prosper") and finds inner strength:

"So the more you curse me/The more you're blessing me/The Word said it/Love your enemies/Do good to those who curse you/Pray for those who mistreat you."

There is plenty of room for fun as well - as she coos on "I'm That Chick," a bouncy, ultra-catchy slice of old school soul, "I brings that levity." That track, as well as the Supremes-esque "I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time," sizzle with addictive hooks and wall-to-wall Mariahs singing over each other. Others like the sassy, dancefloor-ready "O.O.C. (Out of Control)," which has such snappy lyrics and blazing attitude that its title seems destined work its way shorthand vernacular, sound crafted to blare out of top-down convertible stereos on hot summer afternoons.

"Migrate" featuring T-Pain ("From my car into the club we migrate/From the bar to V.I.P. we migrate") and "Cruise Control" featuring Damien Marley ("I've been told so many sagas/He brings the drama, six baby mamas") both appear destined smash hits with their irrepressible choruses, and "I Stay In Love" is a classic Carey ballad that nevertheless finds her throwing curveballs at her creative palette.

"For the Record," however, may be the album's penultimate moment. Assuring a former love that her fire still burns bright, she namedrops some of her '90s records amid the buoyant, violin-infused instrumentation:

"Can't nobody say/I didn't give my all to you/And for the record/I told you underneath the stars that you belong to me/For the record/It's obvious that we just can't let go of us, honey."

Carey proves herself to be in the throes of an awesome creative streak with "E=MC2." The last album proved her talent unstoppable in spite of the odds against her, but this one affirms she is here to stay. She has never been more sexy, more beautiful, more moving or inspiring. Carey proves yet again that through all the imitators and worthy chart rivals there is only one performer with the killer combo of vocal perfection and songwriting panache.

"Them other regularities, they can't compete with MC," she continues on the aforementioned track. "The whole entire world can tell that you love yourself some me."

Our great-grandchildren will surely not remember most of today's entertainers, but "E=MC2" adds further likelihood that Carey will prove an exception to the rule.

I have been a fan of Mariah Carey every since her debut album emerged in June of 1990. I have followed every album since then and I know what a remarkable singer and talented song writer she is. What bothers me is that I've seen her go from a beautiful classy singer to someone who still sings well but belts out tunes that are so beneath her.

This latest CD E=MC2 has a very intellectual title, nice cover and a few songs that takes me back to 90's Mariah. There are some songs on there with lyrics that are just ridiculous and I can't believe she recorded it! I love the song Bye Bye however if you listen to some of the words, it's obvious she's forgotten how to use the proper English. Forgive me but using "Ghetto Slang" in such an inspirational song takes away from it (ex. This is for my peoples who just lost somebody???). You can be down with hip hop and use the proper English! That's the main issue I have with her material lately.

Some of my favorite songs on this CD are:

I wish you Well: very beautiful and inspirational, even quotes passages from the Bible.

For the Record: a very nice ballad with no rappers yelling through it.

I Stay in Love: Another beautiful ballad minus the obnoxious rappers.

Bye Bye: Has a beautiful message and she sings it well (minus some of her word choice).

Loving you Long time: Very Catchy tune. It samples one of my all time favorite songs; Stay with Me by Debarge. Even better, it samples a section that hasn't been used!! About time! Others that have sampled it in the past used the same hook.

Migrate: The music is hype and fun to dance to but the lyrics....not for a mature 38 year old woman! As someone said in their review, leave the kid's stuff to the kids!! I like T-Pain because he has brought back the ZAPP Roger Troutman sound and he does it very well on this song.

Touch my Body: Cute for a 20 year old. The music is catchy but once again those lyrics!! I think someone needs to remind Ms. M that she is 38.

The other songs haven't really done much for me, I'm still trying to warm up to them.

Overall it's an okay CD. If you love the 90's Mariah as I do, you may be disappointed. I know what she is capable of bringing to the table and it seems as if lately she is selling herself short however I am a devoted fan and I will continue to buy her music. I know that no matter what she puts out, she will always deliver at least two good powerhouse ballads and that's enough to keep me a fan.

I love her and I think she is an incredible vocalist.

As a hardcore Mariah Carey fan, I was so very excited for this album. I had been waiting for it ever since I finished listening to her fantastic 2005 comeback album "The Emancipation of Mimi". Mariah herself said that this new album would be the dessert to the main course that was TEOM. Unfortunately, that's not true. This album is such a departure for Mariah...it's vapid, soulless pop-n-b. The beats are run-of-the-mill, the lyrics are sophmoric, and all in all, each song sounds like it could have been done better by Beyoncé. I can't belive that these songs are coming from Mariah Carey. This is the worst album in Mariah's discography. It finds her nearing 40 and yet still trying to desperately for fit in with young R&B singers in their 20s. Mariah can't be a Beyoncé, she can't be a Ciara, she can't be a Keyshia Cole. And why would she want to be? She's supposed to be a legend but this music is far from legendary. Not to mention, her voice is in tatters. Her once glorious voice is now breathy, brittle, and barely there. On TEOM, she was able to hide her vocal flaws behind the production, but its state has worsened now to the point that on every song it sounds thin and lifeless.

If this were a Beyoncé album, I'd give it five stars. But this is music from a LEGEND. I'm disappointed.

Mariah needs to take a break, work on her voice, and then come back with something better than these vapid TEOM wanna-be songs.

I own every single Mariah CD and without a doubt this is my LEAST favorite. Mariah has strayed away from her so called great singing voice and every single song on here is one that we could hear from ANY of the female artists out now (good, but nothing special.) I'm just sick of the "pop/top 40" type songs over & over both with and without guest rappers on them. I guess I'm just getting over Mariah - this will probably be the last CD of hers that I'll purchase unless she really COMES WITH IT in the future.

Not exactly the type of heat I would expect from Mariah, but it was okay!

For the Record, Side-effects,and Love Story are a few of my choice tracks.