Mary J Blige - The Breakthrough (16 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

An aptly-titled tour de force!

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 12/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there is justice in the universe, Mary J's latest release will definitely introduce her to a much larger audience and bring her a truckload of awards, along with multi-platinum sales. There is, no doubt, that the singer poured all of her considerable vocal and songwriting talents into this most personally revealing and musically satisfying album. Co-writing no less than eleven of the listed sixteen songs (there is a "hidden" bonus cut included at the end of track 16), Blige is a spokesperson for women, as well as a "therapist" that can give good counsel to men as they deal the topsy-turvy relations game.

On an album wherein all the cuts are outstanding, my favorites include "Enough Cryin'", a triumph of writing, Blige's trademark forceful vocal performance, brilliant orchestral arrangement, and extraordinary background accompaniment; "About You," featuring Will.i.am and legendary Nina Simone, is another brilliantly orchestrated track; the poetic "Be Without You"; "Good Woman," a thought-provoking and toe-tapping message to the young sistahs; and the double-threat of "Take Me as I Am" and "Baggage".

"MJB Da MVP" chronicles Blige's triumphant fourteen-year (and counting) career, expressing the singer's highs and lows, as well as her appreciation of her fans.

There are not enough superlatives that can be heaped upon "Ain't Really Love." This is the kind of song that Aretha could've done in her prime and, obviously, the "Queen's" scepter has been passed to Mary.

The gospel-influenced "I Found My Everything," co-written by featured vocalist Raphael Saadig, has a Prince-thing about it, musically and lyrically.

"Father in You" is sheer perfection in more ways than one as a tribute to fathers and strong men.

And the last (credited) cut with U2 ("One") demonstrates that Blige can hold her own (and on occasion, overpower) the best on the world's musical stage.

Another bonus of the release is the breathtaking photography and attire of the singer.

Blige has never looked sexier and more captivating.

Mariah Carey best be glad that this album was not released earlier in the year.

Mary J's "emancipation" is far superior to "Mimi's"!"

Break On Through

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 12/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Breakthrough is possibly the best album of Mary J. Blige's great career. Ms. Blige's singing has gained a sense of maturity and she inhabits the songs with feel of someone who has experienced life's ups and downs and is comfortable singing about both. Several of the songs are directed at her new husband, producer Kendu Isaacs. The best is "Baggage" where she apologizes for bringing all her emotional drama to the relationship and "Father In You" is superb classic soul where Ms. Blige thanks her husband for the ways he has made up for her absent father. "Good Woman Down" she plays the role of mentor to young woman who went through the troubles she went through. "I Found My Everything" is a straight-up anthem with an exuberant vocal. There are virtually no missteps outside of her cover of U2's "One" which drags on a bit too long."

Mary's VERY Best Work

Musac Critic | 12/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mary J. Blige's THE BREAKTHROUGH is clearly one of Mary's strongest albums EVER. Mary J. Blige becomes extremely personal on this album, much more so than her 2003 effort LOVE & LIFE. While LOVE & LIFE was a good album (though some critics called it one of her weaker efforts), THE BREAKTHROUGH easily trumps LOVE in almost everyway.

First, Mary J. Blige had some slight pitch issues on LOVE & LIFE. Here on THE BREAKTHROUGH, Blige's voice is much better in tune while still keeping the same raw emotion that she has within her powerhouse vocals. In fact, in a growth that has stemmed since Blige's debut album and the emotion she showed on the exceptional "I'm Going Down" (from her second I believe), Blige's vocals have grown more and more emotional with a greater coarseness that provides for a great texture on her recordings. In fact, Blige is one of the few artists that continue to build herself better and better with each substantial recording. Now, with THE BREAKTHROUGH, she has reached the pinnacle.

What is particularly fantastic about THE BREAKTHROUGH is the fact that Blige isn't afraid to admit she has her faults or that she hasn't lived a perfect life. Most of her songs have blatant titles such as "Baggage" or "Take Me as I Am". Even more sweet or real (however you perceive it) is her love songs and "poetry" that is directed towards her husband music producer Kendu, where she has such songs as the exceptional "Can't Get Enough", "I Found My Everything", and arguably, "Father in You". In another exceptional cut, "Good Woman Down", Blige tells the story about her father being abusive to her mother very powerfully. It is themes such as these that make THE BREAKTHROUGH ever more credible.

Not only does THE BREAKTHROUGH stand on its own two feet where topics of interest are concerned, the production is among the best for any R&B album of 2005. On The Jay-Z featured "Can't Hide From Love", a neat sample is used mixed with a deep bass line, well produced drum programming, keyboards, and of course Blige's powerful vocals on top of it all. Furthermore, acoustic piano lines are laced throughout the album on tracks such as excellent first single "Be Without You". Furthermore, some of the risks taking with sampling provide yet another vehicle of excellence to this already exceptional affair. "About You" brings late jazz diva Nina Simone to the mix with a sample of her most famous song "Feeling Good". To make the use of that sample even greater is how Blige wonderfully harmonizes above Nina's low register, smoky vocals. Furthermore, the exceptional "I Found My Everything" sounds so similar to Aretha Franklin's legendary recording of "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)" in its overall timbre and soulful feel. In fact, on several occasions, you can clearly hear the influence of Aretha Franklin on Mary J. Blige as Blige very successfully keeps the spirit of soul alive throughout this album.

There is no true filler material on this album, which is shocking for an R&B album. This will definitely be a Grammy Nominee for 2007. This is honestly one of the best R&B albums of 2005, period. Well done Mary. 5 stars.

"

I love the music of Mary J. Blige

Robert G Yokoyama | Mililani, Hawaii | 02/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love the music of Mary J. Blige. My favorite track on this album is Take Me As I Am. This is an excellent song about self acceptance and loving yourself. This is a very inspirational song for anyone who is struggling in life. No One Will Do is a standout track. This is a song about the love Mary has for her husband. Another highlight on this CD is MJB Da MVP. This song is about the ups and downs of Mary's life and career in the music business. It is a great dance track. Be Without You is another gem on this album. This is a heart wrenching hit song about missing a loved one. One is a very strong track too. Bono and Mary sound great singing together. Mary gives this classic U2 song a special touch with her soulful voice. The songs on this CD are very personal. The Breakthrough is the best album in the career of Mary J. Blige."

Long Live the Queen: Mary J. Blige Officially Breaks Through

Mesfin Fekadu | Philly / Jersey | 04/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul helped close 2005 by releasing her seventh studio album, The Breakthrough-arguably her best work. At a point in her life where she has experienced many of life's joys and dramas, Mary J. Blige is intelligent and shares this knowledge on her beautiful Breakthrough.

Debuting on the Billboard 200 Album chart at No. 1 with 727,136 units sold, the now-platinum Breakthrough ranks with the highest first-week sales by a female R&B artist in Billboard history.

On The Breakthrough, Blige delivers a message; that is, anything in life is possible. From growing up in the tough streets of Yonkers, NY to abusing drugs, Blige has blossomed into a talented, strong-willed woman and musical icon. The Breakthrough's leading single, "Be Without You," explores the ups and the downs between man and woman in a relationship. In the song, Blige continues to work at keeping her relationship together. It is evident that this song is personal to Blige; as a recently married woman, she faces situations like these-it is one of those things couples decide to cope with when committed. "Be Without You" has reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart and has broke into the top ten on the Hot 100 Singles chart. The music video for the song has also reached No.1 on BET's 106th and Park video countdown and features Hustle & Flow star Terrence Howard.

The set of 16 tremendous tracks opens with a bang-"No One Will Do," where Blige pays homage to husband and record producer Kendu Isaacs. Guest appearances on The Breakthrough include Jay-Z, U2 and the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am, while productions by Rodney Jerkins (Destiny's Child, Brandy), Raphael Saadiq (Teedra Moses, Tony! Toni! Ton?!), and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Usher, Mariah Carey) combine with Blige's rough, yet sweet voice to create a masterpiece.

Aside from the first single, "Take Me As I Am," "One," "Good Woman Down" and "Ain't Really Love" are the album's top tracks.

In "Take Me As I Am," Blige sings, "You know I've been holding on / Try to make me weak / But I still stay strong / Put my life all up in these songs / Just so you can feel me,"-proving that more than ever that she has grown and accepts herself and others for who they are. On the track, Blige credits New York City and God for her growth, independence and self-confidence.

Other highlights include "Alone," a duet with Blige's new artist Dave Young, and the personal, "Father In You." A song where Blige asks husband Kendu to be the father figure she never had, is an issue that many young African American females can relate to. "I Found My Everything" continues to display Blige's growth with an old school feel, while tracks like "Gonna Breakthrough" and "MJB Da MVP" sample hip-hop beats that flow nicely with Blige's voice-something only few artists can attempt successfully.

Serving as the executive producer on The Breakthrough, Blige provides true and genuine songs, and in result, her prior three sets, Love & Life (2003), No More Drama (2001) and Mary (1999), respectively, seem mediocre. While they may have spawned Blige's first and only No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart hit ("Family Affair," 2001), GRAMMY and MTV Video Music awards and include collaborations with Elton John and Method Man (with whom Blige received her first GRAMMY award for her work on their duet "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" in 1995), still isn't enough to compare to The Breakthrough. Over the years Blige has only matured; consequently, so has her music.

A collaboration that could never be forgotten-Mary J. Blige and U2-outshines other "best of both worlds" attempts on "One." On the track, Blige even outshines U2's vocalist Bono, where her voice is loud, beautiful, deep and clear. Blige sings powerful lyrics: "Have you come here for forgiveness? / Have you come to raise the dead? / Have you come here to play Jesus? / To the lepers in your head." Blige and U2 will perform the song at the 48th Annual GRAMMY Award Show.

Blige, 35, will launch a tour this spring to promote The Breakthrough. She will also be taking a page out of Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx's book and star in MTV's biopic of Nina Simone. MJB fans can also hear Blige on "Love Changes" from Foxx's release, Unpredictable.

Recently, Blige was awarded the V Legend award at the 3rd Annual VIBE Awards. Blige has also been nominated for three NAACP Image awards, including Outstanding Album for The Breakthrough. Blige's influences on contemporary R&B artists can be seen through the likes of Alicia Keys and rising stars Amerie and Keyshia Cole. She is a great role model for young adults across the nation, thus serving as Hip-Hop/Soul's queen."

Search - Mary J Blige :: The Breakthrough

CD Details

Synopsis

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews