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On CHARMBRACELET, Mariah lets us into her world, and offers up what might be her most personal offering yet. The album opens with the first single "Through The Rain", a fitting choice knowing what she has been through. It is an inspiring song of hope and determination, realizing you have the strength to make it through the rain and face another day. It's a classic Mariah ballad, in a similar vein of her past hits "Hero" and "Can't Take That Away". I was not sure what to expect with this album, but I am not too disapointed in it. Once again she has the collaborations, however thankfully there are not as many on here as on her past albums like GLITTER or RAINBOW. Cam'ron joins Mariah on the bouncy "Boy (I Need You)", Jay-Z and Freeway join her on "You Got Me", West Side Connection on "Irresistible", and Kelly Price & Joe on the "Through The Rain" Remix.

The strength of the album lies in the ballads, which are very personal. "I Only Wanted" is one of my favorites, it looks in retrospect at a relationship and the promises made, wishing the outcome was different. A sentiment and experience I'm sure many people have been through in their own lives, I know I have. "My Saving Grace" is a nice uplifting ballad, with excellent vocals from Mariah. She does another cover song here as well, on "Bringin' On The Heartbreak", originally done by Def Leppard. "Clown" is rumored to be about her brief relationship with Eminem, its definately a tongue in cheek song full of attitude.

Perhaps the saddest, most personal moment on the album lies in the song "Sunflowers for Alfred Roy", a song she sings about her father who passed away earlier this year. According to Mariah, she only sang this song once through. "Lullaby" and "Subtle Invitation" are upbeat funky numbers fans are sure to love. My only complaints are, the collaborations, once again not necessary, and the high level she is singing at. She is singing even higher than she did on RAINBOW, and at times it sounds strained and its hard to hear what she is trying to convey, but at times it does work.

Overall, whether or not this album performs well commercially is not the question. Mariah has returned to form on this CD, by singing and writing from the heart. That is the greatest reward, and the fact she is sharing this with her listeners.


wroks like a charm!   December 5, 2002
 32 out of 34 found this review helpful

Mariah Carey is at her best in this deeply emotional album. the lead single, through the rain, is an inspirational song that everyone can relate to. other tracks, such as lullaby, the one and you got me are the perfect example of what is meant by MARIAH's songs are never boring! the work simply drips with style and beauty.

1.through the rain: a ballad written by the songstress and showcases her amazing voice.

2. boy (i need you: a nice funky song that samples cam'rons summer hit oh boy in a good way.

3. The one: Mariah and JD did one hell of a job on this stunning song, the lyrics, the music, the singing; you name it this song has it.

4. Yours: a beautiful catchy ballad which has the same feeling of thank god i found. straight up hit.

5.You Got Me feat. Jay-Z and Freeway: simply great. the song is a one the albums highlights, it has a good beat to it.

6. I Only Wanted: no matter how much i praise this song it will be an underestimation for it is sooooooooo beautiful. sorry but i can't be objective about it. a Mariah calssic with spanish guitar and the sound of the shore it has the same feeling of My all and after tonight (maybe more mature) a #1 if ever released.

7. clown: a nice hip hop song that artistically smashes eminem's face.

8. My Saving Grace: a gospel masterpeice which we haven't heard from Mariah since anytime you need a friend. straight from the heart (if you cry easily don't listen to it in public)

9. You Had Your Chance: nice hip hop song, has good base it will make you want to get your groove on.

10. Lullaby: a song very close to the roof from the butterfly album, sexy, infctious song. my favorite.

11. Irresistible (Westside Connection): features Ashanti, a great song again modern hip hop is here but it doesn't hurt.

12. Subtle Invitation: a soulful down-to-earth song that has a definet Stevie wonder feeling to it. jazzy upbeat.

13. Bringin' On The Heartbreak: a cover of def leppard's hit, need i say more? ok it's great.

14. Sunflowers For Alfred Roy: beautiful elegy dedicated to her late father very intense and emotional.

15. Through The Rain (Remix) feat. Kelly Price and Joe: a beautiful r'n'b remix very well produced and the choice of guest artits couldn't be more appropriate.

a great album will be enjoyed by everybody it's directed to all styles pop, adult contmporary, r'n'b, jazz and even rock! a must have in any decent music library.


Just an honest review from a long-time fan   December 4, 2002
 23 out of 34 found this review helpful

It would be very easy for me to simply and thoughtlessly give this album a 5-star review, and post "I love you, Mariah," thinking that might be a sufficient and helpful review. I say it would be easy, because, when it all boils down to it, I do love her, and have been a fan ever since her debut album came out when I was only 13 years old. Her music, and most especially her astonishing voice, touched and inspired me back in 1990, and continues to do so. As I grew older, there was always a new Mariah album coming out, and each album excited and moved me enough to keep buying them. While I do call myself a devoted fan, I am also a musician, and have been my whole life. Therefore, while part of me will always see Mariah as my ultimate favorite, I can also listen to her music with a fairly unbaised and honest ear. As she and her music matured, more musical gems might have been produced, but her sound definitely changed, in both her music and her voice. While not necessarily a bad thing, her stylings definitely strayed from the sound that made her famous in the first place. Many people argue that she has gotten "ghetto," using more and more hip-hop influences in her music. This, to put it bluntly, is somewhat true. But then again, many people liked her change. I was taken aback by it, trying to embrace her new style, while sometimes longing for her old one to return. In addition, her voice, while always being able to achieve amazing vocal talents, has become sometimes inconsistant. Her power-house "belting" has oftentimes been replaced with a softer, breathier quality, with which many fans have been disappointed. I, sometimes, am one of those fans. But alas, she still does "have it," and can still today sing with the stylings that made her famous.....she just doesn't on most occasions, or when she does, it's sparingly. I am not sure if this is simply a choice, or if she cannot sing consistently like she used to from lack of training, or vocal health problems. But to me, it doesn't really matter. Because she can if she wants to, and when she does, it never fails to blow my socks off. One might not like her style, but one cannot deny that this woman is one of today's most talented singers, bar none. Her vocal range is absolutely remarkable, and when displayed, her musicality, control, power, and versatility is undeniably astonishing, as she can demonstrate vocal prowess in so many different ways. (Notice how I used the word CAN.) Additionally, what has tarnished her image has been her hardships, ranging from a horribly public emotional breakdown, a movie and accompanying soundtrack which flopped, her multi-million dollar record deal going sour, and her father's passing, to name a few. As is usually the case, the media has had many a field day with these, and there you have it. But despite all that, her talent will never deplete, and no-one can deny that. Her latest album, "Charmbracelet," is most definitely an attempt at a "comeback." I am honestly unsure of how this album will be received, but as an unbiased Mariah fan who is sick of the two extreme ends: "I LOVE HER, SHE IS GOD" vs. "that hoochie needs to give up," I can honestly say that this new album is pleasant to listen to...though it's not great. She has a handful of wonderful "classic" Mariah vocal moments, a handful of "ghetto" Mariah, with guests Jay-Z and Cam'ron, quite a bit of the breathy Mariah vocals that some people abhor, and overall, a group of nicely written songs. These songs, while containing very personal lyrics and pretty melodies, did not blow my socks off the way her older songs used to. After hearing the entire album, I was, for the most part, pleased, but this is only due to the fact that it's HER album....and I will buy every album she will ever make. But for someone who does not have the affinity that I do, this album is at most "listen-able." For those of you who "kinda" like Mariah, and are somewhat unfamiliar with her work, I would suggest her older albums, or her greatest hit compilation albums: her "#1's" or her double-album "Greatest Hits." And yes, this album is better than "Glitter." Maybe tying "Rainbow" or just under it. But it still comes nowhere near to "Butterfly" or any earlier album.


Terrible comeback album   December 19, 2002
 17 out of 54 found this review helpful

As a BIG Mariah fan, this album was a hug disappointment. C'mon stop singing with those annoying nasal sounding noises! Please save it for background vocals. I am so sick of hearing her switch voices in the lead vocals of every song on this album.

You should buy this album because:
1) You're a fan trying to support her through a tough time
2) You like listening to moaning and groaning noises


The Charm of "Charmbracelet"   December 7, 2002
 13 out of 15 found this review helpful

Mariah Carey has a lot riding on this album. After a rough 2001 for Mariah, with a very public "physical and mental breakdown," it becomes apprant that this album needs to be a home-run, for her to reclaim her status as the the top selling female recording artist in the industry. For what it's worth, I would say this album has a pretty good shot at doing just that.

Charmbracelet is a very strong album, not much unlike most other very good Mariah Carey albums - its a well assembled piece of pop music, injected with various hip-hop influences; a record mostly consisting of slow-burning R&B jams and ballads. There is a lot of feeling in this album too, one can't help but admire the woman's ability to work out her very public problems in songs that blend raw emotion and stunning high notes with perfect pop execution.

The album's best moments seem to come when Carey is either truly vulnerable or when she is angry. "Clown" is a stinging, well constructed jab at Eminem, "Lullaby" is a very sonic, lush song with a strong beat, and "I Only Wanted" captures Carey at her most vulnerable and is a very genuine and melancholy "rainy-day" song, one of the type that Carey tends to execute so well.

The biggest surprises though, are in the albums experimentations with her sound. "Subtle Invitation" surrounds Mariah Carey with horns and other live instrumentation; an interesting blending of Jazz and Pop elements, which are not at all typical of Mariah Carey. "Sunflowers For Alfred Roy" is a beautiful, stripped down tribute to her recently deceased father, that is easily the most touching song on the album; she seems to be nearly in tears for its entire duration, and the complexity in the lyrics show Carey's maturation in her writing of songs that deal with her most important issues.

Overall, I hope an album as good as this does all she hopes it will. It is not a perfect album, Carey tends to slip into the "whisper singing" at times when you hope she will burst through the music with her strangely powerful voice, and Charmbracelet is lacking the strong dance numbers that were a staple on Daydream and Butterfly, but perhaps those will be found on the remixes. Mostly however, it is a great testimate to her ability to create great music in the face of her perosonal problems, her first real public backlash, and the death of her father. - 4 Stars -