This Is Me... Then

by

Jennifer Lopez

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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.

With this CD, it becomes even more apparent that Jennifer Lopez is not only a victim of the corporate machine, but a victim of her own creation. Given the number of producers on each track, you'd think it'd be possible to come up with one song that isn't simplistic and bad. Well, that premise would be wrong.

She is still unsure of what direction to take musically and that makes her come across as some sort of artistic mish-mosh as she tries a bit of this and a bit of that. Add to this the fact she still doesn't use her voice properly (she needs to take it down a notch).

"Jenny from the Block" is a hypocritical tank of a song and yet it does have a nice background beat. It's a shame she didn't more with the lyrics. No one's buying the "don't be fooled by the rocks that I got". Instead, what she should have done was added lyrics in which she's got the heart of the Bronx and the bling of success.

Horrible. Just absolutely horrible.