In makeup, purpose, and/or supporting personnel -- though certainly not in lyrical content -- each
Mary J. Blige album since
My Life has been considerably different from the one that preceded it. That holds true with
Good Morning Gorgeous, on which the singer's enlisted cast is almost entirely dissimilar from that of 2017's
Strength of a Woman. A quick glance at the credits reveals that
DJ Khaled is the only holdover from the previous album, and he's involved again with only one cut, doing the
DJ Khaled thing on "Amazing," a blaring celebratory jam out of place here.
Blige does bring back some ever-compatible writers and producers with whom she worked earlier, such as Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews,
Lucky Daye,
D'Mile, and
Cool & Dre. Out of those who are contributing to their first
MJB album, Bongo ByTheWay,
Anderson .Paak, Alissia Benveniste, and
London on Da Track stand out most. Bongo sets the tone with three of the craftiest, most intricate productions, enabling
Blige to stunt, vent, and ruminate in top form.
Paak, on his best deferential behavior, contributes to two of those, plus a later cut brilliantly laced by ace bassist Benveniste.
London follows that by serving up a ballad that coasts -- another highlight with a knockout bassline -- where
Blige is so frustrated with a lover that she thinks about setting fire to his house. All the self-doubt, romantic aggravation, and self-healing might seem overdone in a catalog chock-full of it across three decades. Few have covered the subjects with such detail and conviction as
Blige, and the bottom line is that this 14th proper album of hers combines nuanced performances and succinct writing like none other. ~ Andy Kellman