A Look on Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel
Having read rave reviews of Mariah Carey’s latest project is just not enough. The long wait for me is over. I finally got Mariah Carey’s entire album loaded in my iPod so here’s my say, read on…
Unlike E=MC2- the preceeding CD, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (in-stores Sept. 29) got to me the first time I listened to the tracks. They both have urban-flavoured tracks in them yet it took time before I got to like the songs on the earlier release. But with diva Mariah Carey’s 12th studio album (4th from Island Def Jam label), I would say that this is her best work yet, even better than the overrated comeback salvo, The Emancipation of Mimi granted that we set aside the songs We Belong Together (of course!), Don’t Forget About Us and Fly Like A Bird as everyone might agree these are the massive hits that brought her back to the top of the game. Call it bias but I’m a sucker for RnB/Urban numbers and among the last three MC albums mentioned, Memoirs has got the most in-depth attack. Since the time she smoothly crossed-over from bubblegum pop/syrupy ballads to RnB (so glad she did), I’ve come to like MC more and more over time. In here, MC has collaborated with Tricky Stewart and singer/songwriterThe Dream in most of the songs.
The CD opens up with Betcha Gon’ Know, MC sings a dark, slow tempo plus synth and heavy knocking bass number with low key register on the verses until she climax her way towards the chorus (as she usually does) all the while with deep sighs and the signature whistle notes on the background as she blurts out about an unfaithful lover. Before the song fades to an end, there will be references to Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Walters (20/20). The bouncy Obsessed follows through- the first cut released even before the album is. I believe everyone’s heard this Eminem (or not?) diss song which has gone up to #4 as of this writing on the Billboard Hot 100. She then recalls a lost love then turns rather bitter as she croons the line I can’t wait to H.A.T.E.U. which actually stands for Having A Temporary Emotional Upset. Candy Bling – here MC travels back in time and wishes to rekindle an old flame in this mid-tempo number reminiscent to Underneath The Stars. The subtle bass, keyboards sequencing and the finger snaps makes this an easy listening song perfect while driving home at the end of the day. If there’s one song that I like the least from this album, it would be Ribbon. Simply because to me it’s just a regular RnB track- nothing special about it. Inseperable samples a line from Cyndy Lauper’s Time After Time (“if you’re lost and you look and you will find me”). I thought its cute! The next 3 songs are clever breakup/get over songs. First MC gives an unfaithful lover a Standing O (ovation)- a theme similar to Rihanna’s Take A Bow, then dismisses him with the doo-wop song It’s A Wrap and finally lashes back at him with Up Out My Face, a song with revengeful tongue-twister diss lyrics while still maintaining a certain level of class in it. It is then followed by a 51-second Reprise of the song’s chorus accompanied by snare drums and horns, giving us either a marching band or a cheering squad feel. A smart diversion, something I never saw coming. Meanwhile, enough of the breakup motiff. This time, the diva “puts on her Jimmy Chus and gets it all cute” as she tries to win a man to be More Than Just Friends- another bouncy track about how much she admires a guy “like fries at McDonald’s” and how she wants him to “love her till she hits the top of her soprano”. I just love that line as she releases her ultra-sonic high note on the background. The heavy RnB-acoustic guitar laced The Impossible is a tribute to a man whom she loves like summertime, like a cherry wine, like milkshake, bubblebath and freeze pop amont others. Now its time for the ballads, something for old-school MC fans to smile about. Angels (Prelude) is a brief prelude of whistle notes and whispers which kind of gives you a feeling of being surrounded by an ensemble of angels each having a song of their own. It sets the mood to the next song in the album, which I really like. In fact this is my favorite “Memoirs” track. Angels Cry is Memoir’s We Belong Together and I Stay In Love. You would know when you hear the similar MC formula- keyboards, drum bass and and hand claps. Only, this is what I would call the “new improved” version because it has got more complex backing vocals (all of which are MC’s), deeper lyrics and a melody that you would surely love- trust me on this one. Languishing is a mellow 2-minute-or-so interlude as Mariah sings on her low, breathy register with finger snaps and piano being played on the background. You would hardly even notice that she would then segue this to the last song on the album as before the song ends, the intro of the next songs gets in. That would be her marvelous take on a Foreigner classic I Want To Know What Love Is. The song starts with soft keyboards and breathy vocals then it progresses eventually until she brings out the choir for reinforcement towards the transition, whistle notes and all – a classic moment only MC can deliver.
Basically, it’s not like she has reinvented her music or something, it’s got the same MC touch only better and bolder- just exactly how I hoped it would be.
Alright so I pirated this entire album only because i can’t wait til the release date. But I would definitely buy the CD first of all being a huge fan of hers and of course it’s worth having the original as this is is surely a must-have item in my CD rack. Afterall, I highly recommend the entire album and give it a 5 out of 5.
