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If it didn't follow Glitter, the gold standard for diva implosions in the early 21st century, Mariah Carey's Charmbracelet would simply be her worst album, but since it was rushed out in late 2002 in an effort to mask that disaster, to treat it as if it never happened, it achieves a special kind of grandeur -- it's a botched attempt to restore a career after a botched attempt at a crossover. Of course, the Carey party line, including her new label Island (who has sponsored her vanity imprint, MonarC), claims her lone Virgin album, Glitter, shouldn't be considered an official Mariah album since it was a soundtrack, but not only does that theory not hold water (perhaps Purple Rain shouldn't be considered a Prince album, then?), it signals that everybody realizes that Glitter wasn't just a disaster, but that her whole ghetto-fabulous trip of the late '90s eroded her core MOR audience. So, with Charmbracelet, the backpedalling is immediately evident, from the demure photos gracing the artwork (the tight shorts of Rainbow are long gone) and the first single/opening track "Through the Rain," a slow ballad designed as "Vision of Love" meets "Hero." Mariah is back in the adult contemporary camp, no longer trying to prove that she's real. She hasn't completely abandoned hip-hop, but whenever it rears its head on Charmbracelet, it's utterly jarring, whether it's Jay-Z's and Freeway's guest spots on "You Got Me," the club-ready groove of "You Had Your Chance" (built on the same bassline as "Nuthin' But a G Thang"), or the blatant rewrite of Cam'ron's "Oh Boy" on "Boy (I Need You)" (he may endorse it with a cameo, yet the sampled vocal hook remains singularly annoying no matter how it's presented), or the crackling vinyl used as ambient noise on "Irresistible," or the distracting use of dripping water as percussion on "I Only Wanted." Weirdly enough, even these detours are nothing more than flourishes -- window-dressing on songs that remain firmly in the middle of the road, since that's where the sales are, or at least where Mariah's aging fan base is. This, of course, is not a problem, since she's done hip-hop-influenced dance tunes and ballads very well before. What is a problem is that there are no good songs on this record outside of Def Leppard's power ballad classic "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," which isn't even covered all that well. What is a greater problem is that Mariah's voice is shot, sounding in tatters throughout the record. Whenever she sings, there's a raspy whistle behind her thin voice and she strains to make notes throughout the record. She cannot coo or softly croon, nor can she perform her trademark gravity-defying vocal runs. Her voice is damaged, and there's not a moment where it sounds strong or inviting. That alone would be disturbing, but since the songs are formless and the production bland -- another reason why the hip-hop announces itself, even though it's nowhere near as pronounced as it has been since Butterfly -- her tired voice becomes the only thing to concentrate on, and it's a sad, ugly thing, making an album that would merely have been her worst into something tragic.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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James "Big Jim" Wright, Producer, Co-Producer - Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Producer, Unknown, Other - Steve Hodge, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Chappelle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, Recording Engineer, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Big Jim, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Xavier Smith , Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brad Yost , Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lionel Cole, ComposerLyricist - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex "Godson" Richboug, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Justin Smith, ComposerLyricist - Cameron Giles, ComposerLyricist - Dana Chappelle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Gregory, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Norman Whitfield, ComposerLyricist - Just Blaze, Producer - Cam'ron, FeaturedArtist - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - D. Perini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Bryan-Michael Cox, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Trey Lorenz, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - PHIL TAN, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Frye, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JERMAINE DUPRI, Producer, Mix Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Paul Gregory, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tadd Mingo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary Ann Tatum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - William Odum, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Oswald "Wiz" Bowe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
James Wright, ComposerLyricist - James "Big Jim" Wright, Producer, Co-Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Producer - Steve Hodge, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - TERRY LEWIS, ComposerLyricist - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JAMES HARRIS, ComposerLyricist - Mariah Carey, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Avila, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Xavier Smith , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brad Yost , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - "Big Jim" Wright, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex "Godson" Richboug, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Justin Smith, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, Rap Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Lewis, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Gregory, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Freeway, MainArtist - Just Blaze, Producer, Unknown, Other - Leslie Pridgen, ComposerLyricist - Colin Miller, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - D. Perini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Randy Jackson, Producer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Mitchell, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Guarnieri, Unknown, Other - Jaime Sickora, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Crouch, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Trevor Lawrence Jr., Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Lionel Cole, ComposerLyricist - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lemkuhi, Unknown, Other
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Andre Harris, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Vidal Davis, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Gregory, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Smeltz, Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Dilorenzo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary Ann Tatum, ComposerLyricist - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - D. Perini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dre And Vidal, Producer
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Randy Jackson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Mitchell, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Guarnieri, Unknown, Other - Trevor Lawrence, ComposerLyricist - Jay Spears, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Crouch, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Trevor Lawrence Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - L. Cole, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group and Mariah Carey
Bryan-Michael Cox, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Leon Haywood, ComposerLyricist - PHIL TAN, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Frye, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JERMAINE DUPRI, Producer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - John Horesco IV, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tadd Mingo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Andre Harris, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Vidal Davis, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Gregory, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Smeltz, Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Dilorenzo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dre And Vidal, Producer
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - William Calhoun, ComposerLyricist - Theodore Life, ComposerLyricist - Dana Chappelle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dexter Wansel, ComposerLyricist - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Florian Ammon, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mack 10, ComposerLyricist - Damizza, Producer - Quincy Jones III, ComposerLyricist - Damion Young, ComposerLyricist - Mike Schlesinger, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Randy Jackson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Lloyd Smith, ComposerLyricist - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DEXTER SIMMONS, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Springer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Asif Ali, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Trevor Lawrence, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Chavez, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Crouch, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - 7 Aurelius, Producer, ComposerLyricist - I.G., Producer, Co-Producer - Rob Bacon, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ann Mincielli, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Oswald "Wiz" Bowe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Brian Sumner, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Willis, ComposerLyricist - Timmy Olmstead, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist - Kevin Guarnieri, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - German Villacorta, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Seth Waldmann, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Elliott, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Maynard Clark, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Zeller, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Randy Jackson, Producer - David Campbell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Dana Chappelle, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jaime Sickora, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Spears, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Crouch, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Lionel Cole, ComposerLyricist - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lemkuhi, Unknown, Other
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group, And Mariah Carey
Randy Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Jason Wormer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Chappelle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Lewis, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Rothschild, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mariah Carey, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kelly Price, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Guarnieri, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Just Blaze, Producer - E. Scott Lindner, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Spears, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Crouch, ComposerLyricist - Bill Molina, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary Ann Tatum, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Manuel Farolfi, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giuilo Antognini, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Album review
If it didn't follow Glitter, the gold standard for diva implosions in the early 21st century, Mariah Carey's Charmbracelet would simply be her worst album, but since it was rushed out in late 2002 in an effort to mask that disaster, to treat it as if it never happened, it achieves a special kind of grandeur -- it's a botched attempt to restore a career after a botched attempt at a crossover. Of course, the Carey party line, including her new label Island (who has sponsored her vanity imprint, MonarC), claims her lone Virgin album, Glitter, shouldn't be considered an official Mariah album since it was a soundtrack, but not only does that theory not hold water (perhaps Purple Rain shouldn't be considered a Prince album, then?), it signals that everybody realizes that Glitter wasn't just a disaster, but that her whole ghetto-fabulous trip of the late '90s eroded her core MOR audience. So, with Charmbracelet, the backpedalling is immediately evident, from the demure photos gracing the artwork (the tight shorts of Rainbow are long gone) and the first single/opening track "Through the Rain," a slow ballad designed as "Vision of Love" meets "Hero." Mariah is back in the adult contemporary camp, no longer trying to prove that she's real. She hasn't completely abandoned hip-hop, but whenever it rears its head on Charmbracelet, it's utterly jarring, whether it's Jay-Z's and Freeway's guest spots on "You Got Me," the club-ready groove of "You Had Your Chance" (built on the same bassline as "Nuthin' But a G Thang"), or the blatant rewrite of Cam'ron's "Oh Boy" on "Boy (I Need You)" (he may endorse it with a cameo, yet the sampled vocal hook remains singularly annoying no matter how it's presented), or the crackling vinyl used as ambient noise on "Irresistible," or the distracting use of dripping water as percussion on "I Only Wanted." Weirdly enough, even these detours are nothing more than flourishes -- window-dressing on songs that remain firmly in the middle of the road, since that's where the sales are, or at least where Mariah's aging fan base is. This, of course, is not a problem, since she's done hip-hop-influenced dance tunes and ballads very well before. What is a problem is that there are no good songs on this record outside of Def Leppard's power ballad classic "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," which isn't even covered all that well. What is a greater problem is that Mariah's voice is shot, sounding in tatters throughout the record. Whenever she sings, there's a raspy whistle behind her thin voice and she strains to make notes throughout the record. She cannot coo or softly croon, nor can she perform her trademark gravity-defying vocal runs. Her voice is damaged, and there's not a moment where it sounds strong or inviting. That alone would be disturbing, but since the songs are formless and the production bland -- another reason why the hip-hop announces itself, even though it's nowhere near as pronounced as it has been since Butterfly -- her tired voice becomes the only thing to concentrate on, and it's a sad, ugly thing, making an album that would merely have been her worst into something tragic.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:31
- Main artists: Mariah Carey
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group ℗ 2002 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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