Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Grow up already, Janet

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 26, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  

Photo by Mark Mainz / Getty Images

More Music

More stories »

Janet Jackson

Discipline

Island Records

Grade: D

It's not like the Jackson family is a stranger to spectacular, unnecessary career meltdowns and scandals. Michael was creepy even at his creative peak. But Janet Jackson seemed like the sensible one of the bunch, and to many fans Control and Rhythm Nation creatively eclipsed her older brother's albums.

It's sad that it's come to this. Here she is on the cover of Discipline wearing dominatrix gloves, with a title cut that has her telling "Daddy" that "I need some discipline tonight / I've been very bad."

What's cute at 25 doesn't sell so well at 41. A grown woman cooing songs such as LUV, Rock With U, Never Letchu Go and Can't B Good is just silly. Songs like the unlistenable So Much Betta seem childish and pointless, with the double-entendres and sexual insinuations delivered in an electronically processed baby voice. The spoken "interludes" between the songs are a tired imitation of R&B from the '90s.

Fans still point at Super Bowl backlash as the excuse for her bumpy career road, but Justin Timberlake was her co-conspirator and has moved on with his career just fine. Jackson's approach is to try to bolt together some semblance of her '80s and '90s sound with her "risque" lyrics. It's tired and overdone, and the music on this new disc only confirms that.

Comments

  • February 25, 2008

    9:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Macarde writes:

    I can see your point when it comes to age. However, you are as old as you feel. And for a WOMAN, being in this industry for as as she has, she has had great success. She has impounded her mark, not only in the music industry, but also in the film, as well. As being a fan. She has surprised me with another set of music that will continue leaving an impact.
    It seems to me that success means a lot more to you ($) , than myself. I feel sad for you. However, thanks for having an opinion.

  • February 26, 2008

    12:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jackwoehr writes:

    But JJ was great in the movie "Why Did I Get Married". Not a follower of pop culture I, I was greatly surprised to discover this woman is a very capable actor.