moonchild

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Take Heed to Janet's "Discipline"
Janet Jackson has returned to the scene with a new, fresh, and extremely promising album. Despite her decreasing sales with her last two efforts, "Damita Jo" and "20 Y.O." (Both debuted at #2 on the Billboard Charts), Janet is still riding high on her icon status. "Discipline" is her tenth studio record and she literally walks the listening audience through every reason why she is the legend that she is. On this album, Janet has completely relinquished herself from what she is best known for, working with longtime producers and friends, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and writing all of her own material. Instead, she left all the work up to popular and well-known producers such as longtime love, Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo, Stargate, The Dream & Tricky Stewart, and Rodney Jerkins. Their production and vocal arrangements take this album to the highest destinations imaginable. However, the artist herself, will floor you with her demands for more and desire to groove with that everlasting, unexplainable sultry tone that only she can claim.
"Discipline" starts out hard and funky with the Jerkin's produced first single, "Feedback" where Janet is clearly aware of how much you want her. She's ready and willing. Blow out her amplifier. Go ahead, do it. She wants you to! Everything about this song would make anyone desperate to hit the dance floor. The bass is hard and the hook honestly, makes you want to punch somebody -- it really does go that hard. It took me back to when Janet released "All For You" as her first single from the same titled album; "Feedback" is such a breath of fresh air.
The next track, "Luv" has all the potential in the world. Here, Janet compares falling in love to being in a car wreck. Classic and completely relative to any and everyone who has ever fell hard in love. "I tried to switch my lanes and then I hit my breaks, sparks turned into flames...I should've stopped at the red light.." -- "He hit me with his luv, luv, luv, luv, luv, luv.." The hook is contagious; After the first listen, I simply could not get it out of my head. It almost has that same vibe from 1986's "When I Think Of You" off of Janet's Control album.
"Rollercoaster" follows "Luv" in the sense that Janet cannot get enough of the rollercoaster ride that love is taking her on. The production on this track is insane, simply put. It is all bit crazy sounding however, at the same time you cannot help but get caught up in it all -- exactly like the affect of riding a rollercoaster. "Boy you give me butterflies, so deep inside, you bring me down everytime I look in those eyes -- it takes me all the way across the sky.." Janet's vocals bring you to that place of complete ecstacy; where you just do not have the slightest clue what to do about love but you really could careless, cause you are just besides yourself. This is a classic and could easily be a #1 single. Easily.
After that care-free ride of hard-hitting drums and repetitive pre-choruses, Janet takes a "Bathroom Break". This interlude will take all the longtime Janet fans back to The Velvet Rope as soon as they hear it. Janet's simply, in a club bathroom with her girlfriends chit-chatting about that sorry guy who swore he was good enough to kick game to someone of her calibur. The way the album is going, I bet no one in that club was anywhere near the step stool to her level. It's funny, personable, and refreshing. This was the Janet we were missing -- OK Miss Thing?!
Open that bathroom door and Janet is ready to tease the nearest victim with the infectious and sensuous, "Rock With U". Produced by Jermaine Dupri, this track is completely Euro-Pop & House. It has to be the most immaculately produced track on this CD, next to the title track or "Curtains". Synthesized, robotic voices and harmonies are the bread and butter of this song. And Janet's vocals? Flawless. Janet effortlessly sings you to a place where you probably have never been before, atleast with this voice. "..strobe lights make everything, sexier..shadows dancing on the wall. I wanna rock with u, let's converse. Talk with your body, don't say anything at all.." Her impeccable whisper sets the mood and makes you want to grab the nearest body into the darkest corner of the club, to let them know exactly how sexy the strobe lights are making you feel. This is most definately, one of the best tracks on the album.
The next song, "2Nite" sounds like an ode to the 80's, yet it keeps that euro-pop feel very present in the underbelly of the production. The highlight of this song? Janet is singing in that beautiful upper-register! She sounds incredible and makes you wish she sang like this all the time. "2Nite" has Janet begging for her lover to stay the night claiming, "..something in the 2nite, I don't want to be alone. I need you to keep me warm, baby reach out touch me.." Then, she proceeds to list all the right elements that would make any man stay, singing, "..My body's here, I'm soaking wet, I wanna give you something that you won't forget -- ain't you curious? Don't you wanna know? Just how far do you think my love can go?" You're all hers.
However, that may not be a good thing. "Can't B Good" is Janet's melodic predicament of falling in love when she promised herself she wouldn't. "...I'll fight it if I can, but I don't know if I should. One thing I know, is this can't be good." The first thing I thought about when I heard the first verse of this song was, Michael Joseph Jackson, period. It is utterly amazing how much the two sound alike and this song proves it. It is common knowledge that yes, they are siblings but this song really cements the possibility that they can easily sound like one another. "Can't B Good" is beautifully written and prolifically produced. However, it is Janet's vocals that make the track. Only Janet can sing a song like this.
"Never Letchu Go" is personally the weakest track on the album. The song opens with a guitar riff and follows with Janet whispering throughout the song over a piano, about how hard love can be. Yet, because she is so in love she is willing to work at her relationship and will never give up on her lover. ".. I said it twice, I'ma say it once more, You're what I want..I'm never gonna let you go." How sweet. However, I can do without this one.
What I really want to know is, what is it with Janet and songs about her exes? "Damita Jo" sported the very mysterious and questionable, "Thinkin' 'Bout My X" and now we have, "Greatest X". Really now, Janet? On "Greatest X" we find Janet admitting her love for her ex-boyfriend/husband, which ever you prefer really, and how she regrets not being able to see their relationship through. "And I know it's all my fault, and it would be a lie if I said you didn't cross my mind at all. How do I erase my days that's shaded and blue? All my love's for you.." That's deep. Though she claims these songs are completely innocent and that she is extremely happy where she is in love. So, we won't dwell Miss Jackson. Moving right along...
Throughout the albums interludes, Janet has been heard talking to a robot. A robot who she has named Kyoko. I have no idea who she is and what her purpose is, but she is kind of cute and weird at the same time. Consequently, I love that there is an element of mystery and wonder in this character which in turn, gives the album a little spunk. After "Greatest X", Janet is heard yawning, awaking to Kyoko in her bedroom (?). Janet then proceeds to tell Kyoko that she is feeling a lot better, however Kyoko doesn't really give a damn, Kyoko knows Janet has some secrets. Like us though, Kyoko doesn't dwell. What does she do instead? She raps on the next track.
"So Much Betta" opens up with a synthesized, "Kyoko" sounding voice, throwing it down over a hard, danceable club beat; "Tired of being number two, I can do what she can do. So much betta, I'm for you..So-So Much Betta I'm for you.." There isn't much lyrical content but for the short amount of lyrics that Janet oozes, she claims that she's what you want, what you need, and what you have always wished for. "I'm what you've been missing, you might need to jump on this..." Yes Janet, we have been missing you.
Missing Janet? Yes. Missing Missy? Yes. Have no fear -- Missy joins Janet on the next track, "The 1". The production favors that of Amerie's "One Thing", except it's a hell of a lot better and less annoying. Missy opens the track and spits a verse towards the end and kills it, of course. Janet sounds delicious on this song and all she really wants to know is what she has to do to be yours. "I don't need another, I could spend my life being your lover. Think about it, take some time, picture us together. We can make this thing right cause I don't want no other..I just wanna be the one." Man...what's the hold up?!
"What's Ur Name?" is a sweet and satisfying groove where Janet simply wants to know your name and your number so she can put you in her sidekick and hit you up later. She's lovestruck and her genuine vocals let you know just how deep she's already fallen. This is definately one of those top down, summertime jams.
Time for a vocabulary lesson. The next interlude is a beginners course on what makes the word "Discipline" so Überly special in Janet's eyes. She gives us a fully intellectual as well as animated, oration of what her favorite definitions of the word are. "The Meaning" is quite possibly the only place where you will get off to the latest edition of Webster's Dictionary.
Now, we are in for it. "The Meaning" softly melts into the albums title track, "Discipline", conjuring one of the most, if not the most, aphrodisiacal works of art that Janet has ever done. This track has officially knocked 1993's "Anytime, Anyplace" out from it's #1 spot on my chart of greatest slow jams. Ne-Yo wrote and produced this track especially for Janet and he nailed her writing technique to a T! The sensuality and vulnerability overflows through the speakers with this song and one cannot help but feel the affects. Janet's classic sultry vocals put this work to bed, effortlessly. She coos, "I need some discipline tonight, don't hold back; I've been very bad. Daddy, make me cry.." There is nothing sexier than when you can here the desperation and desire in her vocals. Janet pulls you into her world, where her tormented desire to be punished for lack of discipline simply showcases her unequivocal control over her lover. The sexuality is immense and I know you will need a shower after this one.
The final track on the album is nothing short of a melodic masterpiece. "Curtains" is simply incredible. Janet compares to a night full of rendevous to one of her concerts. "And to be honest, if her bedroom escapades are as amazing as her tour performances, then Jermaine Dupri, I bow at your feet. "Time to close the curtains, come on in the stage is set. Before the show starts mic check, tonight is so exclusive we should make it pay-per-view. Time to close the curtains, I only take requests from you, just tell me what you want me to do. I promise you, you'll be screaming "encore" when I'm through..." Well, well, well then, I cannot wait to go to her next concert. I will definately be seeing you on tour Janet!
Overall, I give the album 4.9 out of 5. One point for "Never Letchu Go". This CD is her best in years and was well-deserving of the #1 spot it garnered during it's opening week. This is a definate recommendation, not just because I am a longtime Janet fan, but because I am a lover of music and artistry. This album is amazing and I promise you, you will not be disappointed. A classic to any music lover's collection. This is the kind of work only Janet Jackson can deliver, and that is the unabridged truth. I'm gone!
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