Artist: Mary J. Blige
Album: Growing Pains
Genre: R&B
Release Date: 12/18/2007
Label: Geffen Records


The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is back with her eighth studio album and she's showing no signs of slowing down. It's really refreshing to she her longevity in the industry as many of her competitors have fallen by the waist side.

There's something about the way Mary lets you know just how human she is without throwing the fact that she's "just like you" in your face all the time. There is no shortage of songs that we can all relate on this album. Its power packed with the joys and pain of love which leads me to believe that "Growing Pains" is more than just a metaphor for finding yourself in life. It goes beyond a surface view of personal growth and shows how in going through that process, one affects not only themselves but those very close around them.

I absolutely loved and played out her last album The Breakthrough so of course I was extremely excited to hear what she had to offer this time around. I won't go so far as to say that I'm disappointed but I will say that this album does not live up to the magnitude of The Breakthrough.

While there are some good songs on here I feel like the album lacks any smash hits like "Be without you" was for her previous album. I also feel like "Just fine" was picked as the first single for obvious reason but was not the best choice. Overall it is a solid album and I would expect no less from Mary. Out of 5 stars I give this album 4. My favorite tracks on the album are "Stay down", "Hurt again", "Shake down" and "What love is". 

1. Work that : I'm sure a lot of people have heard this song already. It is in one of the newest iTunes commercials and is on TV a lot. The song is just alright to me. The thing that stands out most about this track is the message to "work what you got". A self appreciation track. Its typical feel good track that Mary loves to deliver.

2. Grown woman feat. Ludacris: Starts out with a pretty hard hitting track and Mary singing over the track with authority about lookin fly and commanding respect. Beyond that, how can you go wrong with Ludacris on a track? As always, Luda flows over the track effortless with his always clever and witty flows. I'm not totally "Wowed" by this track but with a good beat and Luda, it's enough to listen to this track some more.

3. Just fine: First single off the album that shows Mary getting back to enjoying her life and where she's at now. I'm really surprised this track hasn't reached a higher position on the billboard charts yet. A song you can bump and get your boogie on at the club, it looks like Mary is continuing to show why she is considered the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. This song was written by "The Dream" who is well known for writing the smash hit "Umbrella" for Rihanna. It was also said by Mary that the song was potentially supposed to be hers. See Video

4. Feel like a woman: This is classic Mary right here. A bangin' beat laced with hot lyrics, great arrangement and a delivery that only Mary can give. Speaking from a woman's point of view, she tells the men out there how to make her feel like a woman. Get your note pads fellas!

5. Stay down : The beat to this song gives me a similar vibe to the song "Bed" by J. Holiday. I feel like the person who produced that might have produced this track as well. Stay down is one of those tracks that you listen to when you're in a relationship and you find yourself trying to hold on through the rough times in the relationship. Overall a decent track.

6. Hurt again : Immediately fell in love with the beat and vibe of this track. Has that old skool melodic vibe with enough groove that you can ride to. Very strong chorus on this song that fits perfectly with the vibe of the song. Not necessarily single material but it will be one that gets the repeat button quite often.

7. Shake down feat. Usher: With the current direction that music is going, I would have picked this for a candidate to be the first single off the album. Unfortunately Usher is not looking to appealing in the public eye currently. Yet this track is still a certified banger that I think it would have done much better on radio. They both sound good vocally on this track and compliment each other very well. Hot beat, good lyrics, great singing....looks like a hit to me!

8. Till the morning: A different look for Mary on this track. I feel like the track was better suited for more of an underground rapper than a mainstream singer. Considering how many tracks are on the album, this one could have been left off and wouldn't even have been missed. I like it much better about halfway through when the beat flips yet it doesn't stick around long and then comes back at the end.

9. Roses: Mary starts with "I'm having one of those days when I just don't want to be bothered....." and haven't we all been there? I can definitely pass on this beat, but the meaning behind this song and the lyrics are for sure worth a listen. Love aint all roses and flowers and candy sings Mary. She gives a nice little statement at the end of the song, and how very true what she says is!

10. Fade away : I'm really feelin this track. It has a midtempo beat with and old skool funk vibe that kind of sounds like it could easily be an up-tempo dance track slowed down. I really like the way she sounds vocally on track, very powerful, soulful and smooth. One of the better songs on the album.

11. What love is : I definitely hear a Ne-Yo vibe on this track. Sounds like something he would have had on his album. Hot beat and of course hot lyrics. I can see this song making it to the radio. It's a nice midtempo track that showcases what Mary loves to talk about the most, the joy and pains of love. My only problem, why wasn't this song the first single?

12. Work in progress : Nothing spectacular. Fairly common beat and remotely interesting melody, this song fails to immediately stand out from most anything else that album has to offer. Reminds me of the song off of Keyshia Cole's album titled "Just like you". Basically the song is a testament that contrary to what people might think or believe she is just like you. She gets sad and depressed at times and there's still work to be done in her life.

13. Talk to me : Starts out with a very nice piano solo that sounds like something you might hear from an Alicia Keys track. Another song with the old skool kind of vibe. This song is about communication in a relationship which is important for any relationship to work. "...Let's get over ourselves for us" sings Mary as she makes the statement that in order for a relationship to work, you gotta talk to each other whether you like what the other person has to say or not.

14. If you love me: This song immediately gives you the "Be without you" vibe that was such a smash hit from her last album. Similar beat with a piano heavy melody. In no way does this song stand up to the caliber that "Be without you" had but it makes a decent effort.

15. Smoke: Not that this is a bad song; it just doesn't fit with the rest of the album. The album is pretty solid and cohesive until you get to this song and then you feel like it took a complete left turn on you. I get more of a jazz type vibe from this song.

16. Come to me (Peace) : One mistake you can make is seeing Mary perform and song and then just hearing the song on the album. I made that mistake with this song. I seen her perform it live on TV and there is just something about Mary performing a song like this. There's such a power and strength in her voice when she sings a song like this. It's still great song; it's just not the same as seeing her perform it. 




Aaron Fields is the Sales Marketing Coordinator for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are strictly his