Music Review: Mariah Carey - E=MC2

by Clayton Perry

Mariah Carey is back! And so is the proverbial elephant that looms in the corners of our minds.

It goes without saying that the Emancipation of Mimi allowed Mariah to rise from the ashes, like the mythical phoenix. In fact, the album proved to be her “second coming”—a successful “comeback” that celebrated fifteen years of her long-standing career and garnered GRAMMY awards for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. That being said, E=MC² faced the inevitable task of trying to avoid the label of Emancipation (Part Two) or resembling one of its ill-fated predecessors: Charmbracelet, Glitter or Rainbow.

Luckily, E=MC² is no Rainbow. And while most of the album’s songs glitter, they definitely are not all made of gold. By and large, E=MC² more closely resembles Charmbracelet. And that, dear reader, is not a bad thing.

While Emancipation is the masterpiece etched into the public’s conscious, few remember Charmbracelet, Mariah’s post-breakdown release, which followed a tumultuous departure from Virgin Records and public move to Island Records. Going back to basics, Charmbracelet Unfortunately, “Through the Rain” flopped at radio, and due to poor sales, few were able to hear the raw emotion of “Sunflowers for Alfred Roy,” a song spurned by the death of her father. showcased the diva’s elegance and grace.

Although none of Charmbracelet’s singles managed to break into Billboard’s Hot 100, the album’s formula was replicated on the Emancipation of Mimi. And E=MC² follows in its footsteps—featuring a host of urban radio mainstays like T-Pain (“Migrate”), Damian Marley (“Cruise Control”) and Young Jeezy (“Side Effects”). Jermaine Dupri has three unlisted guest spots as well, with ad-libs on “Love Story,” “Last Kiss” and “Thanx 4 Nothin’.”

While no established artist should ever stifle their creativity, Mariah’s genre-bending experimentations consistently prove that she is at her best when standing alone on a track. This diva needs no introduction, let alone a sideshow. Nevertheless, Mariah continues the sonic transition of her Butterfly days, despite the fact that only three of her eighteen number-one hits have featured guest spots in their original form: “One Sweet Day” (featuring Boyz II Men), Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z) and “Thank God I Found You” (featuring Joe and 98 Degrees). For better or worse, her repertoire is largely composed of power ballads. Unfortunately, the contemporary production on E=MC² makes all of her ballads sound like pop confessionals of love. Even so, lovers of Emancipation will be attracted to “Last Kiss,” “For the Record” and “I Stay in Love,” because they offer an air of familiarity. A casual listen of “Bye Bye,” for example, will evoke fond memories of “We Belong Together.” This time around, though, the focus is on the pain of a love that has been lost, instead of a search for an old love’s affection.

To be certain, E=MC² will sell well and fly off the shelves. Unfortunately, the album, like its Einsteinian title, is too formulaic. But that’s ok. Science has always been based on observable phenomena. With “Touch My Body” becoming Mariah’s eighteenth number one single, we at least have proof that Mimi has not only been emancipated, but will also be around for many years to come.