Stronger with Each Tear

Mary J. Blige | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: December 21, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B002UZ5G7U
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,158 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tonight

2. The One (Featuring Drake)

3. Said And Done

4. Good Love (Featuring T.I.)

5. I Feel Good

6. I Am

7. Each Tear

8. I Love U (Yes I Du)

9. We Got Hood Love (Featuring Trey Songz)

10. Kitchen

11. In The Morning

12. Color - From The Motion Picture Precious: Based On The Novel "Push" By Sapphire

Editorial Reviews

2009 release from the R&B diva, her ninth studio album overall. The album features musical contributions from T.I., Rodney Jenkins, Drake, Darkchild, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett, Polow Da Don, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Stargate and Ne-Yo. Features the singles 'The One' (featuring Drake) and 'I Am'. Also includes 'Color', lifted from the critically acclaimed motion picture Precious. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 'Stronger With Each Tear' Good, But Not Blige's Best Work, December 21, 2009

By 

Antoine D. Reid "80sforever" (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stronger with Each Tear (Audio CD)

I imagine 'Stronger With Each Tear' is going to be an album that people either love or hate, leaving not much room for the middle ground. On the one hand, when placed in Blige's catalog, this album seems necessary or expected; it continues where the last album, 'Growing Pains', ended with Blige seeming more confident, secure and happier than ever. As a stand-alone album though, it doesn't seem to measure up to her past work. Upon the first listen, this was the first album of Blige's that I wasn't impressed with and moved by. It doesn't have the gut-wrenching angst, sadness and anger of her earlier albums or even that of 'Breakthrough' or 'Growing Pains'. The past albums all started off with a bang even with the first track. For this album though, it takes a few tracks for the album to find its legs. That being said, this is a good album but it certainly isn't Blige at her absolute best.

The Good: After two albums that felt somewhat similar style and sequencing wise, 'Stronger With Each Tear' feels like Blige's move in a new direction musically. There aren't as many ballads or deep, depressing tracks and instead, she seems more bent on finding her groove with hip-hop and dance tracks like "The One", featuring Blige's voice manipulated by auto-tune and a dancefloor-ready beat accompanied by hand-claps and an appearance by rapper Drake. A piano and string-backed "Hood Love" is catchy and soothing and has Blige singing of love and devotion rather than her usual theme of heartbreak and angst. "I Am" is this album's version of "Be Without You"; it's very mainstream, hip-hop but pop at the same time and (in my opinion) is Blige at her absolute best musically and vocal wise on the album. Blige also takes a few chances, deviating from her usual musical path by including a track that is rather fun with silly lyrics but again, features a more confident Blige who's giving a warning to a woman coming after her man. "Each Tear" may have a title that screams of ballad and makes you think of Blige's emotional singing but it's a stark turnaround; instead, it's an uplifting, inspiring song about learning from your heart ache. There's a wide range of music and styles featured on 'Stronger With Each Tear', probably the first album from Blige in a while where she's sticking to a theme but allows the music to vary and evolve for each track rather than fit into a specific sound and style for the entire album.

The Bad: What brings the album down is that no track really rises to the level of Blige's biggest hits or her vocal abilities. In some ways, this album felt a bit tame and reserved. I kept waiting for her to let go and really dive into a song with heart, soul and raw emotion as she did with "No More Drama", "We Ride", "As" or even the last album's "What Love Is." She doesn't really have a track like that on the album, though "In the Morning" and "I Can See In Color" come somewhat close. Some of the tracks are decent, but they seem a bit beneath her after all she's accomplished musically in the past few years. The collaborations seem a bit much; you have Trey Songz, T.I. and Drake somewhat taking over some of the songs they're featured on. It's fine, but unlike the past albums, this one is shorter so it felt as if the listener is being cheated out of a real Mary J Blige experience. There are more than a few tracks that just seem okay or average and felt like filler or skip-worthy after one listen including "I Love U", "Said And Done" and "Tonight." It took a few listens for me to pick up on the theme of the music and lyrics but the album sounds as if it was somewhat rushed for the sake of getting it out before the holiday season.

In all, the album is average, not Mary J Blige at her absolute best. Yes, style-wise it's different from her past few albums and she somewhat goes back to her roots with a few hip-hop tracks but still, even after a few listens I can't help but to feel like there's something missing. Something, by the end of the album, feels unfinished, or unrealized and leaves you as a listener with an unsatisfied feeling.

Listen To These: "Each Tear", "I Am", "Kitchen", "Hood Love"

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Very Uplifting...., December 21, 2009

By 

Music Junkie "Let The Music Speak For Itself" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stronger WithEach Tear (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Version) (MP3 Download)

Ok so if you've heard Mary's song from the "More Than A Game" Soundtrack which is titled "Stronger" well that song sums up the theme of this album....Mary brings it again and again like she always does....it seems as if over the last few albums Mary has gained more strength from her trials and tribulations and this album is a celebration of what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger..I saw MJB at the Hollywood Bowl a few years ago and I remember the huge catalog of songs she had to choose from...her songs from in her previous albums were different...in her early years lots more club/dance songs then later on a lot more painful emotional music...it seems like MJB has come full circle and now she's stronger than ever....this album is a must listen if you are looking for something to life your spirits

Highlights from the album include...

#2 The One (Feat. Drake) - great song produced by the only and only darkchild...Drake spits a great verse at the end
#4 Good Love (Feat. T.I.) - another very upbeat positive song featuring a good verse from TI at the end appreciating the women
#5 I Feel Good - MJB at her best trying to appreciate all the good in her life and everyone else's
#7 Each Tear - MJB telling everyone how each tear has truly made her stronger and a better person for going through the pain

I like most of the album...the above ones are just the highlights....I would check it out...and especially at the one day $3.99 price!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stronger with each Listen, December 22, 2009

By 

Damon Henderson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stronger with Each Tear (Audio CD)

Mary has accomplished so much as an artist and a woman, and I've watched her grow since What's the 411?. With each project she seems to grow, however after The Breakthrough something happened to the way she presented her music and for me it works. My Life will forever be my favorite Mary Album because it seems the most personal. This album reveals Mary in another new chapter, and I am right there with her. Its a happy album and it makes you wanna get close to the one you love and tell them how much you love them just in time for the holiday. Thanks for not letting me down Mary its grown folks music...check it out free,your mind and Enjoy.