It’s been five years since Mariah Carey's last studio album, and since then the singer has given birth to twins, served a stint on "American Idol," and reaffirmed her acting skills with a couple of movies too. This her 14th full-length album and despite being 44 years, she sizzles on her cover inlay that shows off her figure that will be the envy of many women half her age as she posed with her arms behind her head in a skimpy swimsuit.

The idea for the album has been years in the making, for the title comes from a painting she created as a toddler. She is reported to have stated that the back cover of this album is a personal treasure. “This is my first and only self portrait. I drew it when I was three and a half and entitled it, me I am Mariah. Please don't judge me for such a simplistic title, come on I was only three and a half. It was a creative visualization about how I saw myself with the purity of a child's heart before it was broken.”

She also states more why she included the childhood picture in the inner jacket sleeve saying. “I've kept this drawing private for so long. But because this album is a reflection of some of the peaks and valleys that have made me who I am today I've decided to share it with those of you who actually care and have been here for me through it all. Been through a lot but I’ve always known me. I am Mariah. Along the way there have been a couple of nicknames and I've inadvertently embodied many personas. Lately they've been calling me The Elusive Chanteuse. I like it”

She hopes that using the word Chanteuse, her new album helps kick start her career again, as the last few albums, Glitter and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, did not do very well. While the diva shows off her sexy side in the album inlay, she also shared a heartwarming moment for her fans to enjoy in her music.

On the album expect the usual, more or less pop sound with a bit of balladry and hip-hop, R & B tinged jams. Carey doesn't exactly go out of her genre as knows most people like her right where she is. Cry opens the record with Mariah's vocals suspended over a soft cloud of pianos; though she sings about angels' tears in typically dramatic fashion, the track highlights her ability to strike a vocal balance between restraint and power.

Highlights include You Don't Know What to Do and Make It Look Good where you have Stevie Wonder playing a few harmonica riffs and where Carey glides over a warm beat reminiscent of Kanye West. You have Dedicated straight hip-hop stuff. Mariah's breakthrough to doing covers comes with George Michael's One More Try where she plays it real safe trying to be on level like the original version.

These songs mentioned make the album worth a listen, though of course you can give it a miss you are not into a bit of slow and easy tracks that refuse to take off. Nothing catchy here, but for Mariah, you can make the time to check it out.

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira