The Emancipation of Mimi

iTunes Review

Upon its release in 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi was hyped as a “comeback,” which in this case was just another way of saying she felt she had something to prove again. And prove herself she does with a release that is solid, self-assured and, most of all, fun. And while the use of an alter ego would suggest that Carey was stepping far outside of herself, it’s really a return to her R&B roots after chasing the elusive pure pop audience. Further proof of this is her A-list cast of supporting artists and co-producers, including such neo-R&B heavyweights as Nelly, Twista, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, and Pharrell Williams. Slickly produced and packed with heavy beats and slow grinds, the album is a mix of sultry ballads and mostly mid-tempo tunes that lean more toward soul than dance numbers. But, as always, it’s the voice that’s the main draw, and her pipes certainly are amazing here. Technically her vocal chops may not be as strong as during her early-1990s prime, but in many ways she sounds better because she’s learned how to control and bend them to the music rather than simply blow the lid off the tunes. Whether as Mimi or Mariah, the woman knows how to get a song across.