Mariah Carey's first proper album since 2009 is a couple covers away from being as nostalgic as the
Glitter soundtrack. Its title -- well, the part that precedes the ellipses -- is taken from a self-portrait, reproduced on the back, drawn at the age of three and a half. "I'll just sit right here and sing that good old school shit to ya," she sings on "Dedicated," a song seasoned with a
Wu-Tang sample, a
Nas throwback verse, and reminiscent chatter. Like many other songs on the album, flashbacks are laced through the music as well as in the lyrics, with
Carey reflecting upon happier moments in a relationship while either pining or scolding. The feel-good "You Don't Know What to Do," one of a few songs made with
Jermaine Dupri and
Bryan-Michael Cox, cleverly interpolates
Inner Life's 1979 disco classic "I'm Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair)" and has
Carey channeling the group's
Jocelyn Brown throughout, especially in the intro. In sharp contrast with
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, a set produced strictly by
Carey,
Tricky Stewart, and
the-Dream, this involves numerous co-writers and co-producers who bring distinct material, from the dusty and dreamy feel of "#Beautiful" (with
Miguel) to the pumping,
Eddie Kendricks-sampling "Meteorite" (a
Q-Tip co-production). Additional co-producers Hit-Boy and
Mike WiLL Made-It provide up-to-date elements, while the latter half involves a couple of gospel-flavored standouts, the latter of which is an inspired tribute to
the Reverend James Cleveland.
Carey unfortunately doesn't feel nostalgic for the succinctness of her early albums, but this shows that she's still capable of delivering 40 minutes of strong, supremely voiced R&B when she's up for it. ~ Andy Kellman