The pop diva is back with her new album, her 10th in line (also her debut release for Island Def Jam after more than a decade at Virgin Records) and by the title she seems to be very excited about it.
After miserable failures one after the other failing to crack the million mark with her last two albums 2006's ‘20 Y.O’ and 2004's ‘Damita Jo’, Janet Jackson is treading carefully making sure this album won’t be another quick demise.
22 tracks with a few of them being introductions to the main track and what you have is I.D. – a sort of computerized voice Kyoko that opens the album. Her first single Rock Wit U is passable and has shades of brother Michael Jackson’s Rock with you surrounding it all around. Though not a total cover of her brother’s classic hit song, the lift is very apparent.
The other single Feedback has been gaining good mileage at urban and pop radio stations, thanks to its robotic bassline and voice-modulated effect that has probably been specially made for the clubs. The song at the very first listen is one of those feel good pieces where you would want to get up and dance. Press the rewind button for sure.
Janet is known for her superb dance tracks if her previous albums are anything to go by and so her new effort has all these arrangements plus some of her saucier stuff, something Janet is known for. Tune into Rollercoaster, Can’t B Good and Greatest X that are really cool and have good grooves. The title track has lyrics that blow into your mind. "I need some discipline tonight/I've been very bad" and "Daddy, make me cry."
But all this may or not break even with fans that have now grown up and found new superstars dishing out better stuff in the past.
Rating: ***
Reviewed by Verus Ferreira