Mary J's 'Breakthrough' Gospel

The Queen of soul and R&B is back in her latest release which unleashes a fiery ball of raw emotional honesty, brutal truths, headbangers and tear wrenching tales of hope. Mary J. bares her insecurities, joys and soul on her newest release The Breakthrough, showing she still has the guts and the will to give herself to the public. \nFew female R&B stars have been able to achieve legend status without gimmicks, constant club jams or the occasional booty shaking. However, Blige's "gimmick" has been her ability to sing exactly what she's thinking, and her thoughts never disappoint, as listening to her feels like one is reading her diary out loud -- each page a testament of a life lived on every end of the spectrum.\nThe album boasts an array of producers, and surrenders no dull moments, as each song caters to those in need of a good head nod, as well as the listener looking for depth-a rare combination in music.\nWith her style more throwback than the latest Mitchell and Ness Jersey, Blige encompasses the best from her past, rather than attempting to compete in the world of the Ashanti's and Beyonce's of the present. She also employs the fail safe technique of sampling soul and rap classics as a backdrop for her cinematic tales.\nTales of love and despair are present throughout from a man to a woman, mother to child and a woman for herself. \nIn "Baggage" she admits her imperfections, which have affected her relationships to the point where she continually takes out her hurt on others.\n"That will never be me," Blige says in "Good Woman Down" about her mother being physically abused when Blige was younger, just to have it happen to her in her own love life.\nThere is much room for hope, however, as Mary never gives in to life, showing that there is room to break the negative cycle. Suggesting that she "went to the ledge but she didn't jump," she has shown her ability to rebound from despair in search of the happily-ever-after ending.\nThe album boasts several soul-stirring duets including two with Raphael Saadiq, and a boundary crossing collaboration with Bono and U2 on "One."\nControlling the listeners' emotions from beginning to end, Blige is an open book, ready to be read, and re-read. Singing the Gospel of realism, vulnerability and the hope of love, Blige is sure to convert fans and critics alike who might have been unhappy with her latest attempts at crossover appeal. More importantly Mary proves that despite the money and fame she's still Mary.