Product Description

'The Breakthough' is the seventh album from one of America's most popular R&B singers Mary J. Blige. Featuring guest production and appearances likes of Rodney Jerkins, Jay-Z, Will.I.Am and female rapper Brooke, the album is a mix of adultR&B and slick hip hop production. The single 'Be Without You' is also included.

Track Listing

1. No One Will Do
2. Enough Cryin - Mary J. Blige, Brook Lynn
3. About You - Mary J. Blige, will.i.am, Nina Simone
4. Be Without You
5. Gonna Breakthrough - Mary J. Blige, Brook
6. Good Woman Down
7. Take Me As I Am
8. Baggage
9. Can't Hide From Luv - Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z
10. MJB Da MVP
11. Can't Get Enough
12. Ain't Really Love
13. I Found My Everything - Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq
14. Father In You
15. Alone - Mary J. Blige, Dave Young
16. One - Mary J. Blige, U2
17. So Lady - Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq
18. Show Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4109 in Music
• Released on: 2005-12-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 76 minutes

From the Label
Undisputed Queen of Hip Hop Soul and three-time Grammy winner Mary J Blige releases her highly anticipated brand new studio album, The Breakthrough. Eight albums and thirteen years since What's The 411 heralded the arrival of a voice to stand alongside the greats of soul music, The Breakthrough delivers Mary's trademark combination of raw power, serenity, conviction and compassion. The songs on The Breakthrough are evidence of Mary's journey from her childhood in the projects of Yonkers, New York, to her early successes plagued with drama, to her current breakthrough. The album takes the listener on a journey through its 14 tracks including an inspiring duet with Bono on U2's "One"; "MJB Da MVP" with Mary's vocal over The Game's "Hate it Or Love It"; and "Can't Hide From Love" with Jay-Z. Mary is well known for her innovative studio productions with a veritable who's-who of musical talents from Sting and Eric Clapton to Aretha Franklin to Method Man, Nas and Jay-Z. On The Breakthrough, Mary continues to work with a hot-list of producers including Bryan-Michael, Cox, Rodney Jerkins, the Black Eyed Peas' Will I Am, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dre & Vidal, Raphael Saadiq and more.

Customer Reviews

Mary J Bilge?
This album reminds me of a quote by Rod Stewart about another singer; "she should occassionally pick a note and hold it for a while". All the swooping, soaring, diving and squawking sounds should be called "seagull singing". In addition to the sea analogy she should perhaps be known as Mary J Bilge.

Full of Fillers
Mary J Blige had been growing on me in recent years based on her previous hit singles and so I eagerly rushed to buy this CD, my first MJB album, when it was initially released. But what a let down!

To my mind there are only three good songs on it - the three singles. Debut single "Be Without You" (UK no. 32) really underperformed for such a classy piece of soul. The third release and stand-out track of the album, the up-tempo song "MJB da MVP", only managed to reach no. 33. Only "One", the U2 cover performed as a duet with Bono managed a respectable showing at no. 2. Although this track benefited from song recognition and a big name duetting partner, it was neither as good as the original nor a patch on the other two singles.

Meanwhile the rest of the album was pretty much dross - bland fillers that could have been from any one of half a dozen RnB singers merely padding out the rest of the album.

This album may appeal to the dedicated MJB or RnB fan, but I cannot recommend it to the more casual buyer. On the other hand, Mary J Blige's new album for 2008, "Growing Pains" is a huge improvement on this effort. And for a safe bet I can also happily recommend her 2006 best-of, "Reflections: a Retrospective: the Greatest Hits".

WELL ROUNDED, POWERFUL ALBUM
When I first got this album I thought it was OK and thought a few of the songs were trash. But recently I can't stop listening to it, it really is an excellent album. The ballads are not slushy and schmaltzy they are powerful soul tracks (Thanks to Raphael Saadiqs musical talents and Marys husky voice), the uptempo songs have some sick vocals and sicker beats by Cool & Dre, Dre & Vidal and Will.i.am.... Buy It...