For the most part,
Jackson's '80s albums for Columbia each boasted a few strong tracks surrounded by a surplus of filler. Though her "quivering" vocal stylings are effective at times, she has a rather plain voice without much range, making vibrant songs and producers who can pull out a lot of her the most ideal recording situation. The absence of these two ingredients makes
R U Tuff Enuff the weakest album in her catalog. The opening "Perfect Combination" has a bland melody and is an obvious knock-off of
L.A. Reid and Babyface's production sound, particularly their work on
the Whispers' "Rock Steady"; the similar-sounding "Read Between the Lines" and sterile title track are just as lackluster. More impressive are the pleasant ballad "This Love Is Forever" and the lightly jazzy swayer "Sweetest Dreams" -- but those two tracks alone aren't worth the monotony of the other six cuts. ~ Justin M. Kantor