Review: I Look to You (Whitney Houston)

Watching the events of Whitney Houston's life unfold in the media has been only a microcosm of recent celebrity culture, a case study in the differences between pre-internet age celebrity and modern media mogul. While Whitney's plight is probably not that dissimilar from a great number of other pop stars, her unique placement, that of an 80's leading lady to a fallen icon, has drawn a level of public sympathy often not granted to the internet age celebs. This year has been Houston's redemption tour, complete with public appearances, a major Oprah interview, and a brand-new comeback album titled I Look to You.

How does I Look to You measure up? Surprisingly well, considering her last studio album was cut in 2002. Whitney re-invents herself as a fresh, poised pop diva, striking the best regal pose she can conjure for the glamorous cover shot. However, the album itself doesn't necessarily come across as fresh as Houston's revamped image. The infectious led single "Million Dollar Bill" is a relatively good snapshot of the entire album. Fun, slick, but not particularly focused. Houston proves her relevance and commands the mic on the Ne-Yo inspired "Call You Tonight" (an understated album standout) and the particularly strong dance-hall remake of "A Song for You." She shows off her diverse ability to navigate genres, contrasting such synth-pop as "Nothing' But Love" to the soaring balladry of "I Didn't Know My Own Strength."

That being said, Houston fumbles when packing on the unnecessary filler. Some is harmless, such as "Like I Never Left," a breezy summer-track featuring Akon, and the masturbation-encouraging "For the Lovers." But the clap-track employing thump of "Worth It" should never have made it out of the recording studio to insult the unsuspecting listeners' senses with its redundant melody and conventional R&B come-ons.

Serving the same purpose as Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi, I Look to You succeeds well in its goal to re-establish Houston as a capable and relevant pop diva with a powerhouse voice. It may not be her most memorable work, but it is safe to say we'll be hearing more from Whitney Houston in the near future. And I Look to You is an irrefutable step in the right direction.