Nearly every song on the album is a wispy smooth ballad, usually with a little more pep of catchy melody, singalong tunes you’d expect from this singer. Lopez is a sensual stylist with a sometimes - husky assertive voice, yet she presents her gusty songs with a direct honesty that doesn’t overplay her obvious carnality. Lopez has been around long enough, now to be almost taken for granted. A tad roostier than previous releases, ‘This is Me…..Then’ gives her plenty more opportunities to shine.

The album opens up with Lopez bravely allowing herself to assume the role of the heartbroken lover in Still while Loving you examines love and inner strength. On other tracks like All I have (feat. LL Cool J), Jenny from the block (feat. Styles and Jadakiss) expect the usual J – Lo sound to be served up with some R & B, Hip – Hop and dance grooves and sweet songwriting styles.

She takes on a 70’s diva, Carly Simon’s track You Belong to Me and turns it into a fingerclickingly funky  piece with enough steam to cloud a room, bringing a degree of heat to the line.

The woman’s third studio album promises a lot of more lighter moments, one of them being a magical ballad probably inspired by her new fiancé in Dear Ben. You could also turn up the volume on the slow and sensual vocals of this Lady from the Bronx in Again. She’s The One, another track maybe one of her more catchy songs, but it’s the entire album that captivates throughout. The unexpected ways she shapes and reshapes the melodies from the slow to the uptempo, suggest an alternatively inquisitive and contemplative mind of this once upon a time dancer and now one of Hollywood’s hottest actress.

She is no newcomer, infact she’s recorded countless solo, solo collaborations and small band settings and her influences can be seen in her numerous albums so far.

I’m gonna be alright (Feat Nas) from her earlier album, is an especially lavish curtain closer. Utterly mesmeric. The end result is a brilliant 13-track album that could wow her fans, then…..and even now. Lopez takes the listener into a dreamy world of catchy chorus and friendly flowing chords. The multi – talented Lopez is unlike any other singer out there. She’s sung her way up the charts and this album is evidence that her distinctive sound has made this an ace album.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira