Album: Mary J Blige – Growing Pains

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The trouble with being a music great is that only the best is expected. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J Blige, has recorded nine studio albums. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide and has had over 20 Grammy nominations. She sings, she writes, she produces. She even acts occasionally. She has had countless hits, worked with the best in the business and is at a point in her career where she overseas the entire creative process of her work.

Growing Pains is her latest release, and has already had amazing success, selling over half a million copies in its first week in the US alone. Mary J has collaborated with many top notch artists on the album including Ludacris on the track Grown Woman, Usher in the duet Shake Down, Pharrell who wrote In The Morning, and Ne-Yo who has produced and written various tracks.

With Mary J’s track record and the array of talented artists featured, the expectations are high. And listening to the album's opener Work That, an upbeat, feel-good, woman-power track, it seems they will be met. Next is Grown Woman. The professional chemistry between Ludacris and Mary is undeniable. It's easily one of the best songs on show. The third track, Just Fine, is also the first single and continues to impress. It has the classic Mary J vibe: soulful and fresh.

However after the first three tracks the album doesn’t deliver anything highly original or noteworthy except Roses, a powerful stand-out cut that is sure to be a favourite. The rest of the album is standard, heart-breaker ballads. Most are lyrically beautiful, and will no doubt be adored by Mary’s fans, however wouldn’t be featured on a Mary J Blige greatest hits album.

Growing Pains may not be the pinnacle of her career, or the best record she’s ever created, but it is a solid album that embodies growth and heart ache. And as Mary J has said herself, her goal is not making chart-topping albums anymore. In that respect, Growing Pains has accomplished what she set out to achieve, “I’m serious about my fans so I’m not even worried about making the hottest record in the world; I’m worried about making something that’s going to connect with my fans.” And that she has definitely done.

Available through Geffen Records/Universal Music