October 23, 2006

Janet Jackson is 20 Y.O.

By Maya J. Pope-Chappell



“I wanna keep it light. I don’t wanna be serious. I wanna have fun.”

Commemorating Janet’s 20 years since her 1986 breakthrough album Control, 20 Y.O. shows a lighter, less serious side of Janet. With help from her man Jermaine Dupri and her legendary team of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet moves her music in a more playful, hip hop influenced direction equipped with pounding bass lines, synthesized melodies, and sexy lyrics.

This Virgin LP which includes remnants of Janet’s past productions features high energy dance tracks, airy ballads, and her signature freaky moan music. Unlike her previous albums, Janet’s pop meets JD’s hip hop approach is for the most part, a good thing.

Take the second single “So Excited” which mixes DJ scratch’s with synth piano and Janet’s breathy crackling tone. “Get it Out of Me” which samples Afrika Bambaataa’s “Looking for the Perfect Beat,” is another pulsating hip moving track. “With You,” a song about that care-free feeling you get when you're with that special someone is less dramatic, successfully slowing down the pace of the CD. Although the album goes overboard on hand claps and the rhythms at times are overwhelming, this is a fun and revitalized side of Janet, one that signals the lighter side of a mid-life crisis. Grade: B

Posted at October 23, 2006 10:58 PM

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