The Emancipation of Mimi- Platinum Edition and Extras

I wish I could say there was a purely legitimate reason for this review-- the anniversary of the release date, the fact that there aren't already a hundred of these, but I can't. I just love this damn album. Even the fact that The Adventures of Mimi Tour DVD is coming out this Tuesday is sheer coincidence. You just haven't read a review of 'Emancipation' 'til you've read one from such a die hard fan of Mariah and music in general like myself.

Emancipation was a different albums from the start. In the past, it had been tradition for Mariah's debut single off any given album to hit number one, usually it's first week on the charts. Debut tracks like Honey, Dreamlover, Heartbreaker, they were like a beautiful revelation that signaled the coming of more sugary pop ecstasy year after year. After relative "flops" Glitter and Charmbracelet this tradition died, and it was probably for the best. No doubt the expectation to be number one creates an nervewracking mixture of unrealistic pressure. Moreover, the number one singles seemed to completely overshadow the other album tracks. Album tracks seemed to be only filler for the album's singles, though it's fair to say the remains were decent enough. I credit Charmbracelet for the pivotal change of album emphasis. By 'Emancipation' the new trend was full blown. Though the album churned hits out of it's first three tracks, and so on to its fifth and introductory bonus track, To me the non-released tracks on 'Mimi' are the meat.

Mine Again-- a stone winner. The mock-effect sound of the record needle hitting an old vinyl album ensures the track is going for your heart strings, and the song does just that. Employing old school theatrics that channel deep soul traditions like Tina Turner, Mariah begins the song already at a high octane level, and amazingly keeps turning up the power til song's end. Lovingly, Mariah gives a humble demonstration of her God-given instrument by letting it loose, like a Thoroughbred or a beautifully crafted machine. This track truly represents her capabilities, and it's so old school R&B, it represents the best of that genre. A genius forlorn love ballad.

Stay the Night-- This song continues with what Mine Again started, as Mimi turns in another genius vocal performance. Whatever note that is she hits on "niiight" and "liiight" and "driiive," it's the purest, most resonant version of a note I've ever heard. By the end of the first chorus I was enthralled, but the ending almost had me in tears when I first heard it. Brilliantly sampled and smart uptown groove, largely thanks to Kanye West.

Get Your Number-- Featuring Jermaine Dupri. I was a little put off by JD's Nelly impression, but Nelly didn't seem to be so I guess it's okay. I love to hear Mariah veer from her down-to-earth nature and get playfully braggadocious with lyrics like, "here's a little somethin' bout me/ I got a house in Capri and my own G4 [private jet] and a Benz with the doors that lift up from the floor," obviously her taking JD's lead. A party record with a depth that you don't notice right away. Not my favorite but a vital track. It definitely informs the albums feel.

One and Only-- more evidence of Mariah's heavy hip hop hand. An understated hip hop duet designed to showcase Twista more than Mariah, reminiscent of "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" that received criticism for her minimal presence. But her collaborative nature can't help but pay homage to the music she loves. Not my favorite either but good enough not to skip.

Circles-- another stone groove smash hit wonder. From the first note it was clear she was channeling her R&B roots. And not Aretha and Chaka like in Mine Again, but "Circles" was Teddy Pendergrass and Otis Redding. Utterly amazing from the start and even more by the finish.

Your Girl-- what an interesting little 2 minutes and 48 seconds this song is. This showed a completely new and creative side to Mariah from the aggressively belted, staccato delivery of the chorus to it's confident, charge-taking words "I ain't wastin' no more time/ Cuz I got to make you mine/ I'm gonna make you want to get with me tonight..." Decidedly straight-forward and direct, atypical from the usual innuendoed, flirty style of her "boy meets girl" songs. Shows a grown-up sexuality and sensibility over a lackadaisical hip hop beat.

I Wish You Knew-- In the tradition of Mine Again and Circles of resurrecting good old fashion rhythm and blues, as well as Mariah vocally pushing it to the limit. The added live audience background effect and Mariah's added dialogue are vibrant, creative details that give this track more body. That and the back up singer's "do-do-do-doo" force you to visualize her in concert in all her diva glory. Only a brief audience participation moment would've sent this track into permanent diva-moment history.

To the Floor-- Featuring The Neptunes and Nelly. A party collaborative in the true sense, Mariah joins forces with the boys and adds her feminine charms to this dance floor anthem. Though it's not a showstopper, each of the superstars pull their own weight in the track and distribute it evenly, to the point that this track could've easily been on all three of their albums without seeming out of place. A contagious jam in the vein of "It's Like That," guaranteed to entice you to move.

Joyride-- One of the only contemporary R&B tracks on the album and most reminiscent of past Mariah songs. This could easily be a Rainbow or a Butterfly album track but fits perfectly as a piece of this album's mosaic. A gorgeous ballad suitable for weddings and in the celebratory tradition of "Thank God I Found You."

Fly Like a Bird-- If you bought the album the day it came out like I did, this was the last track, and to me a fitting way to end the album. Joyride seemed to me like the end with Fly Like a Bird the epilogue. Like most of the songs that make up Emancipation, it was live elements that gave this song and its vocals so much charged energy. Though inspirational the words are significantly melancholy, but you would hardly notice it from its choir-laden, modulating bombast-- this is what true gospel is made of. Mariah completes the tribute to her roots with this, Emanicpation's flagship track.

Don't Forget About Us-- this track is popularly known as "We Belong Together II," however the defining theme that sets this track apart from the other is a resolution. Where "We Belong Together" details a terrible loss and ends with a long, dismal full voice note of agony, "Don't Forget About Us" shows us the worst of it is over and she's moved on to the acceptance stage, a calmer, more reasonable place where all she wants is the impact that's left on a person's life when you love them. Though it doesn't say whether the song is in tribute to a relationship that failed or succeeded, I suspect the song is about a love affair that is now defunct. A new wave style R&B track that resonates with the same crowd that got WBT.

We Belong Together (Remix)-- Mariah's uber rapid-fire vocals and lyrical contributions by Jadakiss among others with gems like, "hot like a real fever, the real diva/so successful yet still so eager" make this remix a solid contribution. Yet again, Mariah masterfully experiments with her sound as if she were doing an impression, all while protecting the essence of the original nestled in the song's chorus and verse.

Sprung/Secret Love-- It's hard not to think of these later added bonus tracks as afterthoughts, but in reality these were more than likely the tracks she worked on closer to the initial process. This is evident in Sprung, which has traces of the same vocal inflections found in "Stay the Night." Had the sessions with her and JD never happened, the first three tracks on 'Emancipation' would never have existed. Would these songs have filled the gap? Probably not. But just as 'Emancipation' would've never existed without her making 'Charmbracelet', her current style would not have hit such a pivotal stride without contributions by Mahogany and Swizz Beats. The two songs tap into both her hip hop and R&B sensibilities, and her vocals tend to go pop on these tracks, making a complete "combo plate" of recorded bliss irresistible to the listening ear. You will find a favorite part, particularly in Sprung which just has too many good things about it. Not nearly as complete a thought as 'Emancipations' original tracks, these bonus tracks give us an intriguing look into Mariah's artistic state of mind during this album-making period.

I Feel It (unreleased)-- This track was leaked onto the internet not more than five months ago by its producer, Mahogany, after he tried to sell it on a website for a small price. If you're lucky you might be able to catch this lucky accident using free resources like YouTube. According to some reports the track was excluded because Mariah didn't have time to spit-polish it to her liking. All in all, it doesn't sound completely congruent with the rest of the album, not even the other bonus tracks. Whatever the reason it wasn't included, it certainly had nothing to do with quality, because when it comes to Mariah songs, this may be one of her best musical contributions that we've never seen. Some people were marketing the track as a leaked new single from the upcoming effort, and that's what it sounds like. A surprising neo-soul delight, it sounds more like the future of Mariah. The vocals land into this stratospheric pool of earthy soul. Her voice has never been more intense yet she's never sounded more grounded, channeling all the raw-talent greats with her prodigenous take on the song's emotion. The songbird leaves you with a high note flying away beautifully, aimlessly like an eagle in flight, yet some how you are satisfied. "Here it comes here it comes here it comes agaiiiiiiiiiin..." Dramatic and satisfying soul, reminiscent of classic R&B yet also of a diva in the climactic scene of an opera. An unbelievable masterpiece.

Mariah is set to release her newest album in February 2008, which is rumored to be named "Sweet Soul Odyssey," but officially is not yet titled. Word on the street is this album trumps 'Emancipation', and even Mariah herself has referred to it as a bigger and better continuation of the last album, even playfully as "Mimi II."

Whether you're hungry for more or nostalgic for the "Old Mariah," you can catch her live from Anaheim where she performs over a dozen of her signature hits from the sold out concert on The Adventures of Mimi Tour DVD, out December 4th and available exclusively at Best Buy.