Search - Mariah Carey :: Playlist: The Very Best of Mariah Carey

Not a "Greatest Hits" But Still Has Amazing Songs

Jorge Novoa | Miami, Florida | 01/27/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Okay... so maybe this isn't a collection of the very best Mariah has to offer. If you wanted Mariah's greatest hits, then you should get "Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits." Or perhaps you should go download the songs you want individually. What this CD is, is a compilation album containing some of Mariah's personal favorites from her Columbia days. Songs that may have never been commercially released but were "hits" with the fans as well. No, not everyone is going to be ecstatic about the songs chosen for this CD, but they are still great songs. The album goes to show that songs don't need to spend 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in order to be good. In fact, only 3 of these tracks made it to #1. Still, anyone that appreciates music cannot deny the power of the haunting vocals of "Vanishing" or the vulnerability of "Looking In." You can also listen to Mariah trying to find herself, both artistically ("Babydoll") and personally ("Outside"). The bottom line is, you don't have to get the CD if you don't want to (it shows the tracklist so it's not exactly false advertising), but if you do, you get 14 great Mariah songs for $6.99."

Not Definitively, Mariah

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 01/26/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"There is no question about Mariah's success during her Columbia days back in the 90's. She had made record-breaking moment after moment. BUt when she left for other labels, with Virgin and later with Island, she never was able to really re-capture the multi-platinum status she had definitive shown, with the exception her 2005 album, The Emancipation Of Mimi. But, there honestly hasn't been a definitive reflection of whom Mariah Carey has been, with a few overshadowed tracks. Now, with the appeal of Sony's Playlist series, Mariah music is now being showcased from her 90's Sony era, but it isn't definitive as it shows.



Playlist: The Very Best Of Mariah Carey isn't a definitive reflection of Mariah's career as it says it is. The collection of songs doesn't actually showcase Mariah's biggest career-spanning songs, but instead mainly focuses in on lesser-known tracks for anyone whom is new to Mariah's music. The collection does include a few of her classics like Emotions, Dreamlover, and Make It Happen. But overall, a lot of lesser-known songs are here like Bliss, Melt Away, Underneath The Stars, and Vanishing. The collection overlooks a whole lot of Mariah's big standards here as well. You won't find her biggest hits like the intimate Hero, her debut smash Vision Of Love, or any of her biggest collaborations here like One Sweet Day with Boyz II Men, or the Oscar-winning duet with Whitney Houston on When You Believe. Overall it leaves a bittersweet taste of spoiled honey, that could've been more exciting.



Overall, this might be a great buy if you're a die hard Mariah Carey fan, but honestly it wouldn't be worth the money that you'd spend on. There are better Mariah Carey collections that are worth the purchase like her 1998 #1's album, or her 2001 Greatest Hits double-album. But anyway you look at it, Playlist: The Very Best Of Mariah Carey isn't exactly the vision of love for anyone who wants a definitive Mariah Carey collection of great songs.



Album Cover: B-



Songs: D 1/2+



Price: C-



Remastering: B-



Overall: D+"