Entertainment Weekly (p.63) - "Carey remains a romantic at heart. With the ballads 'Love Story' and 'Last Kiss,' she reunites with Dupri to recapture the passionate splendor of 2005's 'We Belong Together.'" -- Grade: A-
Blender (Magazine) (p.75) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[This is] Carey's most-fun album, and her best. Not coincidentally, it's also her most propulsive, with strong contributions from A-list producers including Jermaine Dupri, SwizzBeatz, Stargate and Tricky Stewart."
Title Note
The arrival of E=MC2 in 2008 indicated that Mariah Carey's reign as the queen of pop, and her status as one of the most popular and best-selling artists of all time, wasn't likely to end soon. The follow-up to the 2005 multi-platinum, chart-topping, Grammy-sweeping THE EMANCIPATION OF MIMI, E=MC2 reveals no slackening of focus or ambition, thanks in part to an all-star line-up of production help that includes The Dream, C. "Tricky" Stewart, Jermaine Dupri, will.i.am, Stargate, DJ Troomp, and Antonio "LA" Reid (who co-produced the album with Carey).
As usual, Carey's concentration isn't on club-oriented dance tracks but on smooth, mid-tempo R&B that pulses with sexy glamour. The lead-off single, "Touch My Body," is a case in point, a breathy invocation that induces both romantic feelings and swaying hips, and is classic Carey. Other album highlights include opener "Migrate," a moody, slinky jam; the disco-flavored "I'm That Chick"; and the ballads "I Stay in Love" and "Love Story." Nothing here is a radical departure, but Carey just seems to get better at what she does best: making sexy, listenable, flawlessly crafted R&B.
Editorial Reviews
TOWER.COM REVIEW
Mariah Carey - E=MC2
April 15th 2008 marks the official heralded return of R&B Diva, Mariah Carey, who, after a 3 year hiatus, delivers her 11th studio effort E=MC2, a follow up to 2005’s The Emancipation Of Mimi.
In true Diva style, this multi Grammy Award recipient’s first single, “Touch My Body” touches on familiar territory and finds her combining her sultry appeal and multi-octave talents in full tilt. Carey takes on duties as executive producer while enlisting top-charting beat makers like Jermaine Dupri to provide many of the backdrops found on E=MC2 as well as highly sought after Scott Storch. Amidst the club-thumping hits, MC manages to reveal her true self by tackling on the issue of spousal abuse experienced in the much publicized shaky relationship with music mogel Tommy Mottola (“Side Effects”). She bounces back into Diva mode and even takes it up a notch by making a blatant, braggadocio anthem “I’m That Chick” loosening up the mood of the album with it’s myriad of hysterical uproars and attitude filled tantrums. Mariah continues to lighten up the listener’s experience with the reggae-influenced “Cruise Control”, a fun, patois-filled joint musical adventure featuring Damian Marley.
Despite Carey’s film flops, public emotional downs, and career woes, MC still manages to keep the science down to the simplest of terms and elements to continue her proven formula for success.
Favorite Songs - "I'm That Chick", "Touch My Body", "Cruise Control".
Mariahs newest release is filled with hits! Her first single is hot but the rest
of the album is where the fire is. "Im That Chick", "Cruise Control" and "Thanx
for Nothin" are my faves.
Still #1, April 18, 2008
By Fawksfiyah
Gotta say, her first single "Touch My Body" was extremely disappointing, it
lacked substance and barely showcased Mariahs full vocal and writing abilities.
Although her second single "Bye Bye" is also simplistic and too much of a safe
song written by Mariah in honor of "peoples who just lost somebody", its appeal
is universal and easily relatable.
Overall, the album goes from cheeky and
flirty to personal and forgiving. EMC2 is perfectly crafted to please any
Mariah Carey fans, theres no doubt well be hearing more of her hot tracks in the
clubs this summer.
Top 5:
5. For The Record
4. Side Effect
3. I Wish You
Well
2. Cruise Control
1. I Stay In Love
Related Products The Emancipation Of Mimi, Butterfly, The Breakthrough ~ Mary J. Blige, Hard
Candy ~ Madonna, As I Am ~ Alicia Keys, New Amerykah ~ Erykah Badu,