Mariah Carey – E=MC² – music review

Artist: Mariah Carey

Title: E=MC²

Label: Island

Rating: 6/10

Corporate line:
Performer and songwriter Mariah Carey has set April 15th as the in-store date for the most eagerly anticipated album of the year, “E=MC².” The 11th studio album of her career, “E=MC²” is the follow-up to The Emancipation Of Mimi, Mariah’s worldwide 10 million selling #1 album, which generated three Grammy awards (including Best Contemporary R&B Album), 2 #1 singles and countless more industry honors during its 18-month stay on the charts. The first single from “E=MC²” is “Touch My Body,” written and produced by Mariah Carey, C. “Tricky” Stewart, and The-Dream, and blasting out worldwide on February 12th. The video for “Touch My Body” was directed by feature filmmaker Brett Ratner – Internet, cable and network premieres for the video will be announced in the weeks ahead. In addition to C. “Tricky” Stewart and The-Dream, other guest producers joining Mariah on “E=MC²” will include Jermaine Dupri, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Will I Am, Bryan Michael Cox, Nate “Danjahandz” Hills and James Poyser.. E=MC² is executive produced by Mariah Carey and Antonio “LA” Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group.

“The Emancipation Of Mimi,” released April 12, 2005, was an industry phenomenon for the mega-platinum award-winning superstar – Soundscan’s biggest-selling album of the year, bringing total sales of Mariah’s albums, singles and videos to more than 160 million worldwide, making her the most successful female recording artist in history. Mimi featured “We Belong Together” (winner of the Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song Grammys) and “Don’t Forget About Us,” Mariah’s 16th and 17th #1 career singles respectively. They tied one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley’s 17 #1’s. Mariah is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 48 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits.

Best cuts:
There are no outstanding tracks.

The rest:
“Cruise Control” – Mariah and reggae don’t mix so well. The true showcase ends up being for Damian Marley who rips it up.
“Side Effects” – Worth a mention because it’ll make you move.
“Touch My Body” – The verses are hot yet the chorus can’t hold up its end of the bargain. The single lacks the killer hook that sticks in your brain all day.
“Migrate” – Too much electro-vocal tracks that don’t help Mariah–because she doesn’t need the help.
“I Wish You Well” – A pretty song. Doesn’t mean its great.

Finally:
The biggest disappointment with “E=MC2” is the lack of Mariah’s runs. Mariah never has a chance in any of the songs to break it down and just let her voice run and give one of the many historic Mariah Carey goosebump moments. Mariah’s “The Emancipation of Mimi” had plenty of songs that were unforgettable–that is why she made such a huge comeback. Perhaps the hardest thing to swallow with Mariah are the preachy songs that bookend tracks about sex, etc. It’s all too schizophrenic.

Watch the video for “Touch My Body:”