E=MC2 - Mariah Carey

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Sexy, 'souful', but best of all  -  Mariah Carey
Disadvantages:	Lacking the big hit

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I don't want much this christmas, but there is just one thing I need.. thirty-eight year-old singer songwriter, Mariah Carey. Remembering days where this artist went through her physical and emotional breakdown, with members of boyband Westlife staying down her top in awe at how she manages to stay perking by tucking them into her armpits, you may have missed something and seen that Mariah Carey completely reinvented herself. 2005 and the release of the 'Emanicipation of Mimi' album made every males christmas wish a worldwide celebrity once again, although once people see you as healthy they're bound to jump at the chance to knock you back down again. "Slut," not that her recent over-the-top television performances have done anything to discourage such comments. Clearly Carey (ha!) is in a place in her life where she doesn't care what people have to say.

'E=MC²' is not just a physics term now, but also the eleventh studio album from Mariah Carey in a career that began back in 1990 with a self-titled album, and along the way has even featured a collection of christmas tracks. If you hadn't got that by now. Some of Carey's fanbase may now only know the term e=mc² as an album, I know how they feel... Einstein who? Conceptually the scientific term refers to any mass having an energy;

• E = energy
• m = mass
• c = celeritas (speed)

For those that require any extra tuition, see me after class. What Carey has created here is not just a play on words to her critically acclaimed tenth album (emancipation is mariah carey to the second power) but also a representation of Mariah Carey as an artist, with musical energy being in her mass as a human, and speed being her progression through music. With eight-teen US Billboard chart topping singles, Carey holds the record for a solo artist, and the Beales are the only act with more number one singles (20). Being an active recording artist, it is more than expected that this record can be equalled if not surpassed. 'Music Box', the 1993 third album from Carey is her most successful in terms of sales with 30 million copies. Five of these albums have topped the album charts in the US, although Carey had to wait until 2005 to get her first number one single of the millennium.

• 01, Migrate ft. T-Pain (4.18), 4*
• 02, Touch My Body (3.25), 4*

'Touch My Body' was the first track to be released from 'EMC2', getting radio play before it had even leaked on to the internet, showing how closely guarded Mariah's newest project would be. Of course the album would eventually leak on to the internet ahead of its 8 April 2008 release. Immediately I fell for the new track as it sounded familiar to everything good she did on her previous project, however the video fell on flat eyes for its camp playful nature featuring a geeks fantasy of a romantic affair with Mariah Carey. Of course for the male viewers there was plenty of Carey, looking almost better than ever. Eventually you shall tire of the track, that is a bit more simple than previous releases, although with dance remixes and a remix from The Dream, this is likely to stay on airplays for a while yet.

"I will hunt you down"

On the other hand, in the build-up to media outlets hearing the album the buzz was all about 'Migrate', a track featuring the robotic T-Pain. First impressions I felt the track was perhaps being overestimated, although it is on repetitive listens that you can fall for Carey's vocals asking you to migrate back to her place after the party. 'Migrate' possibly has more longevity than 'Touch My Body', and does not sound completely like your usual T-Pain track.

• 03, Cruise Control ft. Damian Marley (3.33), 3*
• 04, I Stay In Love (3.32), 4*
• 05, Side Effects ft. Young Jeezy (4.22), 4*

I was very surprised to see Damian Marley featuring on the album, as the youngest son of legendary reggae artist, Bob Marley. 'Cruise Control' does have a Jamican feel to the track, and in places you even get the feeling that Carey is changing her vocals to fit in with Marley. Not in a racist impressionate way though. Young Jeezy is the only other artist to feature on the album, who is best known for his gangsta track work with Akon and R Kelly. Whilst the track with T-Pain is the best featured track on the album, 'Side Effects' adds a complete different take on all the other tracks so far on the album.

"Hey Mafnifico, or should I say Mafnificent?"

'I Stay in Love' is the first time on the album that Carey tries her hand at a ballad, and with those quick speaking mouths of hers you know its not going to be a slow ballad like you get from other artists about love. Whilst when I think of ballads from Carey, 'Don't Forget About Us' and 'Always Be My Baby' come to mind, this will not be one that jumps straight at me. That's not to say it's not four star worthy.

• 06, I'm That Chick (3.31), 3*
• 07, Love Story (3.56), 4*
• 08, I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time (3.01), 4*
• 09, Last Kiss (3.36), 3*

'I'm That Chick' is the last track before you get along list of tracks related to love, so I guess there was an importance around making it as uptempo as possible. Perhaps its because the sun is shining (through the rain) today, but there is something about this track that sounds like it should only be danced to in the summer. And as I'm not a 'chick', perhaps I'm missing the huge appeal of this song, but I don't think so. A generic song.

"But this isn't just another love story, together we'll make history,

I know because it's just too real, they'll be no end to our love story,

And this ain't gon end up, like that Casablanca movie."

'Love Story' is the best ballad on the album with love in the title, and is one of those tracks that hopefully you shall be remembering when discussing the next album. 'Lovin U Long Time' on the other hand is a more uptempo love song, but is every bit as good. 'Last Kiss' loses out in the way that all these tracks are coming at the same time, and it gets lost in all the excitement over the previous two -- even if the message of no kiss every being the last is a nice, romantic message. A song for couples.

• 10, Thanx 4 Nothin (3.05), 3*
• 11, O.O.C. (3.26), 3*
• 12, For the Record (3.26), 4*

This is possibly around the point where the album starts losing its way a little, where the tracks are nowhere near as stunning as earlier in the album, let along previous projects (I know, sorry, keep comparing Carey to her history). Coincidently this is also around the point where Jermaine Dupri begins coming in to give his one-liners, even though he doesn't have enough of a role to be a featued artist. This is pretty strange seeing as I used to really enjoy songs featuring JD, who is engaged to Janet Jackson, although perhaps now he seems more like a poorman's Timbaland. 'Thanx 4 Nothin' passed me by completely. 'O.O.C.' starts for out of control, although you may find yourself reaching for the stereo control to change the track -- if you don't like sayings like O.O.T., you won't enjoy O.O.C. as a track. 'For the Record' is a welcome calm track after the 'excitement' of the track before it, and if you have seen Carey's recent television appearances you may question how lyrics can come out of her mouth with the persona she gives off when she talks and doesn't sing.

• 13, Bye Bye (4.27), 4*
• 14, I Wish You Well (4.35), 2*

'Bye Bye' shall be the second single off the album, and the premise of the song is to say goodbye to anybody you have ever lost through death that you love. I am sure there shall be plenty of people that will begin associating this song to a loved one, and shed a tear, although if you are more of a hardnut to crack you may wonder how people are already touting this as a US Billboard number one. Critics have stated, "Nothing is ever a sure bet to be a #1 hit, 'Bye Bye' is about as close as it gets." '"This is for my peoples who just lost somebody."

'I Wish You Well' is the outro to the album in many senses, in that Carey is wishing you well until you meet again on her twelth album, although I don't think that's the only message of the track. This shall become a forgotten ballad to cap off the album about a broken relationship. And that completes the four-teen track album.

Mariah Carey spoilt us with her previous project, and whilst my star ratings for each track do not indicate a bad album, anyone expecting another Emancipation may be left disappointed. Perhaps that is why Carey originally planned to keep the name of the album away from her spotless project of perfection, and call this album 'That Chick'. I like E=MC² better as a title, though. I could list off track after track from her last project that I loved; 'We Belong Together', 'Get Your Number', 'Shake It Off'.. on another day 'Migrate', 'Side Effects' and 'Love U Long Time' maybe five-star tracks. By this artists standards they're not. Perhaps the shining moment of this album is the emergance of producer The-Dream to the UK audiance, who is already garnering success in the US for being a mix of Ne-Yo and Timbaland. Compliments don't get much better than that, and he has already worked with Rihanna. There are less high octave tracks, but Leona Lewis should take note, considering this is hundreds of tracks on from Mariah Carey's debut as a twenty-year old all those years ago.

Should I sit on the wall? Yes.

UK consumers can get their hands on the fanfare April 14 2008.