... No vocoders and nothing chopped and screwed are present on Growing Pains, only heart felt harmonies of pain, joy and everything in-between. The title suits this project well: this is not only a soundtrack to Mary's heart, but it's also a soundtrack to anyone who has one bit of emotion in there ... Read review
"I'm talkin' 'bout things I know," Mary J. Blige wails on "Work That," the second single ... more
and opening track of Growing Pains. The album squeaked into 2007 too late to make best-of lists but otherwise would have stormed its way up several, for sure. She ...
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"I'm talkin' 'bout things I know," Mary J. Blige wails on "Work That," the second single ... more
and opening track ofGrowing Pains. The album squeaked into 2007 too late to make best-of lists but otherwise would have stormed its way up several, for sure. She n...
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Hal Leonard Mary J Blige Growing Pains PVG: from the Grammy-nominated album; arranged for ... more
piano, vocals and guitar; with chords and lyrics; Songs: Come To Me (Peace), Fade Away, Feel Like A Woman, Grown Again, Hurt Again, If You Love Me, Just Fine, Roses, Shake Down, Smoke, Stay Down, Talk To Me, Til The Morning, What Love Is, Work In Progress (Growing Pains) and Work That
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Advantages: Best album so far Disadvantages: You tell me!!
...and screwed are present on Growing Pains, only heart felt harmonies of pain, joy and everything in-between. The title suits this project well: this is not only a soundtrack to Mary's heart, but it's also a soundtrack to anyone who has one bit of emotion in there body. Mary has proven since the early '90s to be the queen of hip-hop soul. With most of the music with substance fading nowadays, this is just the remedy that we need. Growing Pains plays ... ...to the overall quality of Growing Pains, because "Come To Me" leaves the rest of the R&B genre in the dust of its victory lap. The song transcends the R&B genre and propels itself into musical history, point blank period. MJB captures a movie in three minutes and 30 seconds. Hearing her emotion-filled lyrics as she declares, "I am here to make peace," makes waving the white flag seem so respectable.
It's 2008 and Mary's not getting caught up in teetering trends. No vocoders and nothing chopped and screwed are present on Growing Pains, only heart felt harmonies of pain, joy and everything in-between. The title suits this project well: this is not only a soundtrack to Mary's heart, but it's also a soundtrack to anyone who has one bit of emotion in there body. Mary has proven since the early '90s to be the queen of hip-hop soul. With most of the music with substance fading nowadays, this is just the remedy that we need. Growing Pains plays like the soundtrack of life, summed up in 16 songs.
MJB shows she's back in true form with "Work That." The song is profound and inspirational, two key elements that have been Mary's secret sauce over the years when cooking up her mood music. "Grown Woman," featuring Ludacris, finds Mary flirting with a new sound. With a track that would usually be found on a Kelis album, Mary knocks this ball out the park with a Beyonce-esque swagger, while Ludacris leaves a lasting impression with only 16 bars to spare. The Ludameister exceeds all expectations by switching his flow a few times to hinder the haters.
Mary's first single, "Just Fine," is another track that is out of the norm for her. It may take multiple listens before it grows on the majority of Mary fans. Females all around the world fell in love with Mary because they related to her pain-filled music, and with a looming recession in the U.S. as well as things getting worse around the world, it's hard to be as happy as Mary is on her first single. "Just Fine" is exactly what its title suggests -- it is just fine. However, it's no "Be Without You," and it's by no means as pensive either.
Once you hear "Stay Down," your mind may time travel back to the mid-90s, a time of analog recordings, where heavy reverb was in, and where the more expression you showed, the more acceptation you got. This is what makes Mary the Queen of R&B -- everything is tuned to perfection, from Mary's amazing vocal demonstration, to the harmonies and pitch change throughout the track. Usher and Mary do their Bonnie and Clyde thing on "Shakedown," and it's a match made in heaven. The back and forth comparisons of pain and passion form an emotional unison that only two of our generations most celebrated vocalist could produce. "Roses" is an intense ballad that could very well be the next single from the album. It's the type of record that stamps time, and everything from the song's pensive premise, to its ideals on morality makes this gem something that can last until your golden years.
"Feel Like A Woman" wasn't the proper platform to make this type of statement. Sometimes the words can be there, but if the production isn't worthy, then the record can go down the tubes like Draino. Another crater in the surface is "Till the Morning," which should have been called "Till The Mourning," because it's dead and nothing memorable takes place on the track. These two glitches won't do much damage to the overall quality of Growing Pains, because "Come To Me" leaves the rest of the R&B genre in the dust of its victory lap. The song transcends the R&B genre and propels itself into musical history, point blank period. MJB captures a movie in three minutes and 30 seconds. Hearing her emotion-filled lyrics as she declares, "I am here to make peace," makes waving the white flag seem so respectable.
Mary is more than a recording artist, she is an icon. There aren't too many people that put their heart and soul into their music like Mary. She puts every ounce of her experiences into her work. Over fifteen years after she stepped on the scene, MJB is in her prime and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
Advantages: evry song gells together from one track to another Disadvantages: you cant get the songs out of your head
This is absolute brililance!
Forget listening to Breakthrough or the 411
this is shows the true artist and superstar that Mary J Blige is
and with a track like 'Just Fine' Nothing can go wrong. 'Growing Pains' is Mary J. Blige's eighth studio album and is an album of the queen of RnBs ups and downs throughout her career and really gives us an insight to the truly remarkable diva that she is.
Track by Track Guide
Work That- this shows the hip-hop ... ...to what is an outstanding album. this gives you a true feeling from the very beginning of this album that you have something very special on your hands.
Grown Woman - another hip-hop record which does not disappoint and features the rap god that is Ludacris. MJB rocks this track as she raps and sings her way through what is a true hip hop track
Just Fine - one of the finest songs created by MJB. this has got to be one of the best anthems ever and ...
xlammiex 05.12.2008
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Advantages: Some good tunes, suitable for anyone any age Disadvantages: Also some poor quality tunes, getting worse each time a new ones out
' Perfect Day' the song was originally by Mark Wills, I feel Cascada has killed this song that has no originality.
*17. Booty Luv - Some Kinda Rush
Very fast catchy tune been around quite a while it was released on the 24th December 2007. This song is from Booty Luvs album 'Boogie 2Nite'.
*18. Samim - Heater
Really good instrumentals but lacks any vocals though. Still very addictive it grew on me and I now feel it is one of the better songs on this album. Lots of music effects throughout the track.
*19. MaryJ. Blige - Just Fine
A track from MaryJ. Blige's eighth album GrowingPains Album another track I just can't get into however it is listenable.
*20. Jay Sean -Ride It
This track is the first single from Jay Sean's second album 'My Own Way' which came out at the end of 2007, it's a good easy listening calm song.
*21. Shayne ...
Product Information for "Growing Pains - Mary J. Blige" »
Product details
Title
Growing Pains
Performer
Mary J. Blige
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
Contemporary R&B
Release Date
04/02/2008
Original Release Year
2007
Label / Distributor
Geffen / Universal Music
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Format
Performer
EAN
602517598201
Catalogue Number
1759820
Additional notes
Album Notes
'Growing Pains' is Mary J. Blige's eighth studio album. After a tumultuous period in the nineties which saw the r&b and soul diva battle demons both privately and professionally, this album documents her final steps to personal happiness as uplifting single 'Just Fine' demonstrates. It's a positive record, and highlights the emotional depth in Blige who sounds more confident and mature than ever before. Also included is a guest appearance from rapper Ludacris.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Work That
2.
Grown Woman - Blige, Mary J. & Ludacris
3.
Just Fine
4.
Feel Like A Woman
5.
Stay Down
6.
Hurt Again
7.
Shake Down - Blige, Mary J. & Usher
8.
Till The Morning
9.
Nowhere Fast
10.
Roses
11.
Fade Away
12.
What Love Is
13.
Work In Progress (Growing Pains)
14.
Talk To Me
15.
If You Love Me (edited version)
16.
Smoke
17.
Come To Me (PEACE)
18.
Hello It's Me
19.
Mirror - Blige, Mary J. & Eve
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Listed on Ciao since
03/11/2007
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