Jennifer Lopez Album: “This Is Me...Then”

Let me start by saying that I was an average Jennifer Lopez fan about two months ago. I've always had an interest in her singles, even when they went too hip-hop (though I think my young age prevented me from appreciating those singles).

Maybe it is the relationship (my first serious one ever) I'm in , watching the MTV2 & MTV Hits Jennifer Lopez marathon of videos & interviews that led up to the release of her newest outing "Rebirth" & basically revisiting Jennifer's music that caused me to go out & purchase all of her albums.

Out of the five, this probably ranks as my personal favorite. It just really came at a certain time in my life & spoke to me I guess you could say. There is a romantic vulnerablity about the entire album. From her sampling of late 70's & early 80's love, dance, & hip-hop gems such as "Juicy Fruit", "You Are Everything", "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" to name a few, to the ironically honest (if not always original) lyrical wording of her feelings, to the washed out moodiness of the CD booklet's photography.

But the tool that actually really surprised me, was Jennifer's voice itself. While most have (unfairly) jumped on her for her 'limited' voice; Ms. Lopez actually shows growth, warmth, range, softness, yet assertiveness whilst singing. Never has she sounded so confident, yet at the same time really I guess what she tries to stress as 'real'. For a pop star Jennifer has a more than average voice, in reality I see her as this generation's Paula Abdul.

Musically the soundscapes work from an urban setting & blend into lovely pop balladry ("The One"), funky anthems ("Jenny From the Block"), & great mid-tempo moments that work as a ballad or something that you could just sit & bob your head to ("All I Have").

Lyrically, this record isn't saying anything that hasn't been said before, but it is being said in a way that everyone could relate to...& I think that that is the true purpose of music: unity in a common theme. This theme follows the trail of lovers' who fall deeply in love & sometimes fall painfully out of love. The uncertainty, the knowing, the warm glow of romance, & every feeling between that has been experienced in any burgeoning or the most saged romance is expressed here.

I guess what I am trying to say is, is that if you were to buy one Jennifer Lopez album, this would be the one. While it a bit more 'low-key' than her previous efforts or new effort, it is definitely an album upon repeated listens that will sink in & really affect you.

I know people who search for this cd are probably all fans of Jlo already, hoping to see a bunch of positive reviews supporting their favorite artist. Once they see the title of my review and the negative words that go with it, I'm certain it won't be voted very popular. However, that's not why I'm writing this review. I'm writing it as a warning to let all of the fans know that this cd is BORING. Straight up boring. If I could underline the word boring, I would in a heartbeat.

Every song on this cd is slow. Now when you think of slow songs, you think of Mariah or Whitney or Celine or even Janet, but certainly not Jlo. First of all, her vocals have to be weakest vocals in the business. Even with modern day technology, she still sounds a step below mediocre. There's a reason she doesn't tour and it's not because she's making hit movies. Lets be .. REAL. So Ms. Soon To Be Mrs. Affleck should stay away from the ballads. Far away. Now, after all of the ballads are taken off of this cd, what you're left with is one song, Jenny From The Block.

This song, which I really like because of it's infectious beats, in reality has to be the tackiest song of the year. Jlo, who prances around Hollywood like God wants us to all know that she's real and has stayed true to her roots. Uh Huh. I don't know too many people "from the block" who ride around in limos, wear dresses more expensive than the places they grew up in and switch husbands more often than most people change the tires on their cars. The best version of Jenny From The Block is the one without the rap, but what is on the cd is the version with the rap; which, of course, is her way of distracting people from the two seconds worth of thought that was actually put into this song. Which is about a second more than what was put into the entire cd.

I really do like most of Jlo's music, but not this cd. Not at all. Sadly, Jlo is starting to take herself seriously and frankly, no one else does.

Another album in a pop music market that bites big time. In no way should you buy "Charmbrcelet", you will be be disappointed you wasted your money. On both albums, there is nothing but dead air. Where is the soul, the depth, the deeper meaning!? For great Pop music, look to Australia, Europe & Central America & the Carribean for better music. Get musicv from real latina vocalists like Judy Torres, Nayobe, Breada K. Starr, Tina B, Cynthia, Safire, & Alisha.

One feels obliged, in all fairness, to point out that not everything about this album is bad. I have to concede that the photos in the booklet really are very nice. As for the content of the disc itself - that's another matter. Okay, we all knew that dear Jenny couldn't sing, but that didn't prevent us from enjoying some of her earlier, uptempo fluff. On this album, though, she seems to be suffering from the misguided notion that she can sing and she's put out an album full of bland ballads to try and show it. What it does confirm, is that despite the fact that the melodic range required in the songs is miniscule, her voice is as tinny and little as we all knew already. Couple that with embarrassing 8th grade lyrics and by-the-numbers, dull arrangements and this is certifiably DOA.

Yo, thank you to every person that's written a review here that has declared this CD mediocre. Thank you, I thought I was crazy.

I reluctantly bought this CD, but I thought I'd try it. For all the grownups in the house - the lyrics in this CD are embarrassing - From "Dear Ben" to "I'm Glad". These songs sound like they've been written by an amateur songwriter and by someone who's trying to convince her new lover (and herself) that she won't diss them the way she dissed poor Cris Judd (and that waiter/model from Puerto Rico).

"Dear Ben" - I was kind of embarrassed just listening to this one. "There's no way I'd leave you/It's just not a reality." Now you know there's a problem when you have to put that in a song, right?

"I'm Glad" - she couldn't think of a more articulate way to express her thankfulness at finding "that certain someone special/who makes this life/worth living" than "I'm GLAD"? I'm glad when I find a parking space close to the door, not when I find a new love who has changed my life. The song also includes these lyrics: "I dig the way that you get down/(You get down thugged out!)" I'm sorry. Is she kidding? If she's talking about her current love, I can't take that seriously. What's she trying to convince him (or us) of? And, lastly, these lyrics: "Can't get enough now/I think I'm in love/Damn, finally!" Uh, weren't you in love with your first two husbands? What's with declaring that she's never been in love before? (That just makes her look worse).

I don't mean to be hatin' or unfair to J-Lo. I like her, I think she's fly and I think she's an excellent actress, but songwriting is sooo not one of her gifts. I read the liner notes on the CD because I wanted to read more about what's motivating her. It's clear from the notes and the songwriting credits that she's really put her heart in it. I mean she's thanking God for allowing her dream of music to come true and she tells Ben that every lyric and note was inspired by him. I felt bad for not liking this. But, yo, listening to her tell her love story on this CD is embarrassing. She's not eloquent enough a songwriter to share her feelings about this love in a way that's anything I can take seriously. It's basically an open letter to convince herself and her new man that she's really in love this time. I can't get into that. Like I said, for all the grownups in the house - if you're into healthy relationships - don't do it.

Thanks, again, to all the reviewers who see it the way I do - you freed me.