Customer Reviews

Rebirth

5 star:		(118)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(51)
2 star:		(50)
1 star:		(164)

 

 

Its title to the contrary, Jennifer Lopez's fifth album makes no attempt to change the formula that made her last four records platinum hits: freeze-dried, dance/hip-hop schlock that's high on production and low on originality. With a name like "Rebirth," you'd think Lopez would try something different in an effort to rehabilitate her public image (3 marriages by the age of 35, a string of flop movies, and obnoxiously diva-like behavior). Fat chance. Her latest record is a bust, despite the fact that it has production from some of the biggest names in the business (Timbaland, Rich Harrison, and Rodney Jerkins). They all deliver the beats and hooks as expected, but they do so to conceal two critical flaws: 1) the album's trite lyrics and 2) Lopez's limp, expressionless voice. The kickoff single "Get Right" was a guilty pleasure of mine for a week before its shrill horn sample worked my last nerve. "Cherry Pie" is disposable funk rock; Timbaland's "He'll Be Back" barely registers, and the CD saves the absolute worst for last on the melodramatic "(Can't Believe) This Is Me." To its credit, there are no sappy love ballads like the embarrassing "Dear Ben" from her 2002 release "This Is Me...Then." But there's virtually nothing on here to inspire an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Rebirth" is so simple-minded and juvenile that I can't recommend it to anyone over the age of 12.

I don't consider myself a fan of Jennifer Lopez but I have checked out her recent work. I would say this album is one of her best since her 1999 release, On the 6. After listening to the leak on MTV, I had to make a review on here for the album.
But I first would like to address, for some (reviewers) to come on here and criticize her for far more than (music)work that is a little unfair. Also, some state that she is the reason why sales are so low.
That's ludacris, the only reason sales are so low today is because people today are too lazy to go out and buy the albums instead they rip (illegally) it from somewhere else or blatantly don't want to spend any money.

In my opinion, if your a Jennifer Lopez fan, you'll love this album. But if you're not a fan, I'm quite sure you'll enjoy it as well. I love 10 of the 12 songs on this album, therefore I gave this album a 4 1/2 stars. I didn't give a 5 because everyone has room for improvement.
Buy the album (a non J-Lofan)

Success in not always a measure of talent when it comes to showbiz. Consider Jennifer Lopez. A multi-million selling persona in different industries from cosmetics to audio, yet she lacks the diligence and talent behind an artist. Even her execs realize that so they rely heavily on image and packaging to market Lopez.
Her ear for hits is so in limbo that she has to copy and steal to achieve chart success. Firstly, she stole the Ja Rule remix idea from Mariah Carey's Glitter by way of Tommy Mottola (Carey's ex-hubby) and released it as a remix of "I'm Real." Now, if you change the melody and the lyrics of a song isn't that a whole other song and not a remix?
Then, more recently, she released a song already recorded by another artist. This time Usher's "Ride" becomes Lopez's "Get Right." The latter is probably one of the worst pop songs ever released. It sounds like an annoying ringtone that never stops. The remix with Fabolous doesn't lose the horrid horns and adds irritation.
Lopez's new album Rebirth is really not what it claims to be. It is better than the vile This Is Me...Then but way down from J.Lo.
Mid-tempo tracks that wouldn't be the light of day if it weren't for Lopez's image like "Step Into My World" and "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe are plain and featureless. Even when Lopez tries to muster up some spice with the funk-laden "Whatever You Wanna Do" she falls flat on her face with dreary lyrics and a bleak chorus.
Then the rest of Rebirth relies solely on hype from "I, Love" to "Ryde Or Die." Even when she manages to catch some mid-tempo flow on "I Got U," she loses it from the ghastliness of the record.
To further the painful trip through this effort, J.Lo unapologetically attempts mimicking Prince on "Cherry Pie," which is more balderdash and less "Raspberry Beret."
It comes as no surprise that Lopez continues to release filler after filler and then the filler remixes. Celebrities like her are walking conglomerates. Her face is trademark and her talk is the PR. No wonder that she can cross borders from being a singer to an actress to a fashion designer. When it comes to music, however, she is nothing special. Her vocal ability sounds like a Karaoke hopeful and her dancing is passable, but no Janet Jackson.
On the last track on Rebirth Lopez asserts "(Can't Believe) This Is Me." To tell you the truth, we can't either.

"Rebirth" is a good album but J.Lo. There are always going to be haters againist her but real listeners know that she has good music. Hey, we all know she is no Whitney or Mariah, but she has her own style and her voice is good. This album is to me the best for her vocally. My fav tracks are "Get Right," "Step into My World," "Cherry Pie (why are people saying this sing is filler, and it is not," "Whatever You Wanna Do (GIVE ME THAT FUNK I CAN MOVE TO (I love that line))," and "Hold You Down." GO J.LO SHAKE THEM HATERS OFF

It's true, Jennifer Lopez's voice is not very strong... But she and her producers make a good use of it, they know how to hide its weakness. After 2002's This is me then, who could have sold a lot more than the 7 millions copies without the Bennifer thingy, J.lo comes back with "Rebirth" after 2 years of "silence" from the medias...I was well surprised by the quality of the album... And, admit it, she grown up a lot vocally, i believe she will go far if she takes voice lessons, cuz she has potential

The album contains danceable songs (Get Right, Cherry Pie, Whatever You Wanna Do...) which have, unlike her past hits (Play, waiting for tonight, i'm glad) a more "live" vibe to it, with a loud beat and drum-machine. Whatever you wanna do is made by sampling an old track by the Nite-Liters. In this track, she doesn't really sing, it is more of a conversation between her and a male voice (original concept) Cherry Pie sounds like a Janet Jackson or Prince song, it's catchy with the electric guitar who gets even more noisier at the bridge. Get Right has a "loud" effect on the chorus, to make the listener feel as he was at a club. In conclusion, Jen is good for moving dancefloors ...

the album also features ballads such as: I, Love with its cool percussions and non conventional chorus (not the typical I Love you, but I, + sentance, Love + sentance), Ryde Or Die, a cover of Brandy's unreleased, "If I", which is a cool love song, but would have been better without the annoying hip hop beat, and Hold You Down, a mid-tempo with Fat Joe, it is similar to the past hit "All I Have" but with a different message, its hook can easily be memorized, and the song itself sounds like made for weddings...The rapper is still disapointing in it...

summertime songs are also included: I Got you (with a little latin or Ain't-it-funniesque influence) and Still Around (old school track which is similar to other hooks of This Is ME Then, and to some of Beyoncé's tracks from Dangerously in Love).

There are as well songs with Oriental/Indian/Eastern flavour and influences, which seem to be the best songs of the record: Step Into My World with its implicit sexual lyrics, and He'll be back which gives a good performance of Lopez, too much heart-broken and disapointed...

The album ends up with the ballad This Is Me, it is strong, and you feel her suffer, but it's just not suitable for J.Lo's weak voice... It would of been better sang by Mariah, Xtina, or her husband Marc Anthony, who produced it.

I had a positive feeling while listening to the cd which made me a fan of Lopez. It's cool to see her experimenting more musical universes , and not being afraid of taking risks. I still hope she doesn't forget her roots by including more Latin elements to her songs, and actually take voice and singing lessons to become better :)

Get Right is the only okay song that is a party banger, the rest really sucks and has too much sampling and weak vocals. I don't understand why some people think mariah fans would bash j lo, I would think those fans have musical tastes of listening to talented people and not bothering with image artists like j lo.

Generally I never buy J Lo's CDs coz only the singles are good like IF u had my love, love dont cost a thing and jenny from the block. I just download them. But this time i decided to buy Rebirth and believe me the album is incredible!! Really im recommending this album to all of those peeps who dont think its gonna be good. Remember this I didnt buy J Lo's CDs too but Rebirth has made me a fan!

First off..let me say..I am not a J-Lo hater, check my reviews and you will see, I don't often give bad reviews! But the bad reviews for this CD are true, so don't be fooled by the record company or gushing "fan" hype! J-Lo's voice is very weak and letting her sing tired, sub-par lyrics, even over solid, thumping beats makes it even more obvious! Jerkins and Timberland can't save her and I doubt The Neptunes (with all their dope beats) even could! And if some of the top producers in the industry can't breathe life into your flat vocals...then let it go...'cuz obviously you're dead in the water!

One thankful thing though.....at least there's no sappy "I'm in love", " I love you, Ben" songs this time...'cuz it would only increase the pain! Unless you're a die-hard J-Lo fan, don't drop a dime on this because in my humble opinion, it isn't a rebirth, its a musical death knoll all dolled up in psuedo hip hop gear!

I liked jennifer until she became too overrated, and let's not get started on her marriages. I thought she was a good dancer and did good movies such as Selena and the Wedding Planner, I enjoyed the singles from On the 6 and J LO very much with their catchy melodies and music and janet jackson-inspired music videos which fit well with the songs, but since then she's gone down musically and this album is no exception. I was feeling get right a lot cause it's much better than that 'jenny from the block' mess she put out but the rest of the album is anything but right. The songs are weak and there are no melodies or hooks that the first 2 albums had. Maybe she should just stick to acting and continue building her acting skills instead of putting out albums. I suggest releasing a greatest hits and focusing on her acting career instead, and maybe being a backup dancer too

When I happened to catch her "world premiere video" (yuck!) on MTV, I was deafened by the screeching of the background music that sounds like a dying cat in a trash can. Nuff said...I did not subject myself to further offerings from this so-called "album". J Ho needs to figure out what's she's actually good at (which is NOT singing)even if it means working at Walmart.