Janet Jackson is Back with Discipline

Janet Jackson is back on the scene with a new album called "Discipline". It was released on February 26, 2008. The album is the first new material since her last album, 2006's "20 Y.O." The album shows Janet trying to navigate her way through the ranks of popular music. In the fickle world of pop music, it is hard to connect with the new young fan base. Many of us remember her from the "Rhythm Nation" days when her music meant empowerment. Some of us got with her during her "Sexy" years when she was showing off her curves and oozing sex in every line of her songs. Can she now bounce back from two bad albums and the worst Super Bowl scheme that she is now remembered for? Here is a review of "Discipline".

One way to satisfy people is to give them more of what they want. This CD doesn't hold really hold to that motto. It is filled with little interludes. When I bought the album I thought they were all songs. It actually has 13 songs with a whopping 7 interludes. That is a bit excessive. Two months from now, people will just be skimming through them to get to their favorite song. This go around she reaches out to Rodney Jerkins, The Dream, Ne-Yo, and a string of other young producers to update her sounds. Musically the album is very cunning in its approach but everybody knows that music along with good lyrics make a good album.

The first single off of the album "Discipline", is called "Feedback". It was produced by Rodney Jerkins and an up-and-coming producer, D-Mile. The song musically is strong, featuring a steady and strong beat with light and heavy hits of electronic bass. Janet utilizes recording techniques to give her voice an electronic feel. This song is a great dance song. It has good break parts to groove to. This is definitely one of her strongest songs. The lyrics are shallow but in a dance song, you are trying to groove so words don't have to have great meaning.

Other great tracks are "The 1" featuring Missy Elliot, "Luv", "Can't B Good", "Discipline", and "So Much Betta". "The 1" is a great track featuring a nice percussion sample driving as the beat. It is a very danceable track though the lyrics are shallow, using a lot of sexual innuendos. "Luv" is a track that talks about how falling in love suddenly is like being hit by a car. It features a nice up-to-date track that could connect with a young, down south driven market. The beat is very nice and popish so this could be a big hit. "Can't B Good" is a great track that finds a classic Janet Jackson groove. It is one of her typical slower songs. It still has a great beat. The same goes for "Discipline". It showcases a slow, very sexual beat that is kind of reminiscent of her "Anytime" record. "So Much Betta" features a straight up beat with some good lyrics. This song is definitely a dance track for serious dancers.

The album does have some sore spots. "The Greatest X", "Never Letchu Go" and "Curtains" sound like Mariah Cary rejects from her last album, the smash hit "The Emancipation of Mimi". They consist of very simple piano patterns and simple beats that seem to have no direction. Another sleeping track is "Rollercoaster" which sounds like a Ciara track that would have never made her album. Janet shines when Janet does Janet. While this album doesn't push the envelope, it does solidify that Janet can still be relevant in today's pop landscape. This is the best effort that she has put forward in years. I recommend that everybody pick it up. Here is a track listing for the U.S. release as well as extra tracks that were included in the Japanese version. Track listing

1. "I.D." (Interlude) (Dernst Emile, Jerkins) - 0:47
2. "Feedback" (LaShawn Daniels, Emile, Jerkins, Tasleema Yasin) - 3:38
3. "LUV" (Daniels, Emile, Jerkins, Yasin) - 3:09
4. "Spinnin" (Interlude) - 0:07
5. "Rollercoaster" (Jerkins, Terry 'The Maddscientist' Thomas, Timothy Thomas) - 3:50
6. "Bathroom Break" (Interlude) - 0:40
7. "Rock with U" (Jermaine Dupri, Shaffer Smith) - 3:51
8. "2nite" (Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Phillip "Taj" Jackson) - 4:08
9. "Can't B Good" (David DoRohn Gough, Smith) - 4:13
10. "4 Words" (Interlude) (Janet Jackson, Jerkins) - 0:10
11. "Never Letchu Go" (Johnta Austin, Dupri, Manuel Seal) - 4:07
12. "Truth or Dare" (Interlude) (Daniels, Emile, Jerkins, Delisha Thomas) - 0:24
13. "Greatest X" (Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart) - 4:22
14. "Good Morning Janet" (Interlude) - 0:43
15. "So Much Betta" (Dupri, Crystal Johnson, Seal) - 2:52
16. "Play Selection (Interlude)" - 0:17
17. "The 1" featuring Missy Elliott (Dupri, Missy Elliott, Johnson, Seal) - 3:40
18. "What's Ur Name" (Dupri, Johnson, Seal) - 2:33
19. "The Meaning" (Interlude) (Daniels, Emile, Jerkins, D. Thomas) - 1:16
20. "Discipline" (Smith, Shea Taylor) - 5:00
21. "Back" (Interlude) - 0:18
22. "Curtains" (Daniels, Dawson, Antonio Dixon, Jerkins) - 3:50
23. "Let Me Know" [UK, Japan & iTunes Bonus track] (Smith) - 3:48
24. "Feedback (Ralphi Rosario Electroshok Radio Mix)" [Japan Bonus track] - 3:47