...Who made it big in Hollywood, and now is all over the music scene, too--and everywhere else! Why did people rate this album so harshly? With all honesty, 'This Is Me...Then' isn't a bad album at all! In fact, it's darn good. Yes, the tracks are most about being in love, but give the girl a break--I'm wondering if most of these people have ever felt so passionately about someone that they could write basically an entire album about that special someone. There's a lot of hip-hop, R&B, and even soul songs on this CD. Sorry, no Spanish songs this time and not many dance tunes! Here's the complete track listing and what I think of each song as an individual:1.) "Still" ~ This is an R&B song. In this song, J.Lo sings about how she's still in love with a guy even though they've been through a lot together. It's an OK song, good way to start off. Kind of slow, though. 4/5 stars
2.) "Loving You" ~ love this song. Potential single. In this more slow, R&B tune, J.Lo sings about being in love with someone...guess who! 5/5 stars
3.) "I'm Glad" ~ a good midtempo hip-hop track. Another potential single. In this song, J.Lo sings, yes again, about being in love and how a certain someone in her life always makes her happy. 5/5 stars
4.) "The One" ~ OK R&B track. In this song, J.Lo sings about the only man for her. 4/5 stars
5.) "Dear Ben" ~ guess who this next love ballad is about? A certain Ben Affleck, maybe? The lyrics get a little too sappy, and is not one of the better songs, but I guess it's pretty personal to J.Lo and Ben. 3/5 stars
6.) "All I Have" ~ a hip-hop duet track featuring LL Cool J. In this song, J.Lo sings about leaving the guy, because she can't trust him, while LL Cool J raps about forgiveness. Cool song, except for that background voice that keeps on saying, "All I have"...that gets annoying. Second single off the album. 4/5 stars
7.) "Jenny From The Block" ~ y'all have heard this song by now, I'm sure! It features Styles and Jadakiss. In this song, J.Lo describes about how even though she's become famous, she will always be "Jenny from the block." Catchy, if you ask me. 5/5 stars
8.) "Again" ~ J.Lo's best ballad on this entire CD! This a powerhouse ballad for Jenny. This song is definitely soul, and the smooth piano sound almost makes it sound a bit jazzy. In this song, J.Lo sings another song about loving someone. BEST SONG ON ALBUM! 5/5 stars
9.) "You Belong To Me" ~ one of the better uptempo hip-hop tracks, in my opinion. In this song, J.Lo sings about a guy she likes who's cheating on her with some other woman. 5/5 stars
10.) "I've Been Thinkin'" ~ a nice R&B song. In this song, J.Lo sings about describing her feelings toward someone. 4/5 stars
11.) "Baby I Love You" ~ another very R&B, almost soul track. In this song, J.Lo sings about telling someone that she loves him. 4/5 stars
12.) "The One" (version 2 *Bonus Track*) ~ this one is similiar to the first version, and is a nice ballad. 5/5 stars
So as you can see, this album is not bad at all. Don't listen to those trashy reviews who critizie her constantly. J.Lo can write her own music and even produces the album. She may not have the best voice ever, but her voice works perfectly with the kind of material she is given. This CD also includes CD-ROM goodies if you've got access to a CD-ROM disc drive and the internet. I think there are songs that are original on this album, and others which have been repeated, but it's just a plain fun album to listen to. So sit back, and relax with 'This Is Me...Then'!
I highly recommend 'This Is Me...Then' by Jennifer Lopez.
Score:
89/100
B+
If there's an award for the most boring celebrity in the world right now, it'll go to jlo. Unfortunately, there's none and she's rather hot at this point in time despite an insipid album like this.
When you thought J to Tha Lo was bad, this is definitely worse! Packing in all the slick and urban sounds that filled her last few remixed tracks, jlo and producers opt for the safe and re-created J to Tha Lo part 2. As if her on-off marriages in the past two years weren't boring enough, Miss J lo took the sanctity out of it all and dedicated the ballad Dear Ben to who else but current squeeze, Ben Affleck. Oh dear, would this be something both would regret 6 months later? That aside, musically, All I Have with LL Cool J also couldnt save the diva from her own act, cos the only thing that salvages the tune is LL himself.
On many songs, J lo's uninspiringly whispery vocal takes a back seat to, gasp, her backup singers. On other times, the suave and cool beats masked the songs in good production that her voice didnt matter anymore. And to top all these, the lyrics [are bad]BR>
It's really j to tha very lo! Put her away for good!
