Music Review: Jennifer Lopez - "LOVE?" (2011)

Jennifer Lopez became a judge on American Idol and it just so happened to be in a year that she was going to release a new album, nice promoting! After hearing the first single off of her new album "LOVE?," as shown on American Idol, I decided I would listen to my first ever Jennifer Lopez album and see if it was going to be equally easy fodder for me to pick on. I gave Jennifer Lopez the benefit of the doubt on every track and tried to get into all of them, but as my notes will show, it's tough to get me moving to dance tracks.

"On The Floor": J-Lo's first words uttered are "It's a new generation of party people." It is, indeed. And this is the crap they listen to! This is a dance party song, not meant to be "intelligent" and I get that, but I don't get it being successful outside of the clubs. Lyrically, a third grader could have written it.

"Good Hit": This could almost be mistaken for a B side track on a Black Eyed Peas album. This is not sweet human Jennifer Lopez, this is ego and materials driven Paris Hilton style swagger, swirled up via auto-tune. Once again, lyrically generic and weak. I'm so cool, I got cool stuff, don't you want me?

"I'm Into You": Lil Wayne opens the song and then Jennifer Lopez comes and makes the duet about being into someone and being seduced by just one look into their eyes, ect. I know she was with Diddy once upon a time, but imagining her and Lil Wayne with this back and forth doesn't seem as realistic for some reason. Overall this song is just boring, Wayne's part is very Lil.

"(What is) LOVE?": Does she have to start every song off with "la la" or "na na"? This song is about someone who is generally angry trying to write a love song and trying to actually find love and questioning: '˜What is love?' Once again, more or less same old, same old stuff even if there might be some insight into her own experiences via the story telling moments of the lyrics, but her celebrity status and married status kind of kills the believable factor considering her as the source.

"Run The World": Five songs into this album, I am hoping for a track that is at least cool and makes me want to tap my foot or something. Not to be. On this one Jennifer Lopez's voice sounds like she is doing a young teen version of Mandy Moore imitation.

"Papi": We're back on the dance floor and this time you need to put your hands up in the air to dance for your "papi." Blah.

"Until It Beats No More": This song touches on moments in the way a Leona Lewis track might, but the emotion is weaker in some way. This one is working for me, all things considered and the genre of music. Nice, I'd let it play on the radio if it happened across it, but I would not seek it out.

"One Love": A beat that I thought would go tough rap for me, quickly sputtered into poppy poop, poopy pop, and a "is there one love?" chant of a chorus. It's okay in terms of pop album filler and potential radio single worthy, but it's not the one for me. So, I guess twenty-nine year old dudes who are more rock than disco might want to steer clear.

"Invading My Mind": Time to go techno again. There are some fun sounds, but Jennifer Lopez and other voices get in the way of the fun, and where the music goes to doesn't stay hip and fun, blands out too much.

"Villain": Jennifer Lopez gets me in the ticklish spot with her vocals on this, kind of sexy! But the lyrics and song overall don't match the tone to make for a good song. As the song goes into the chorus it feels almost like an attempt to cash in on Lady Ga Ga's vibe. Smooth production, but enough with the "la la la" already. Damn, you're a grown woman, make something with some substance.

"Starting Over": A slight gallop to this song and the amount of lyrics is a nice change of pace to the mindless dance tunes. I would be a little worried about some of the words though if I were J-Lo's hubby.

"Hypnotico": More dull dance stuff, not sure if it is meant to be empowering to women or not as there are shout outs to the ladies and then lyrics talking about being silly heartbreakers while making boys want it. I guess it might be about seducing men with the tease while dancing, but not letting them do the horizontal mambo later.