Eighteen years after her first single, "Vision of Love," Mariah Carey goes scientific. Titled E=MC2, her new album is as boring as Einstein's theory of relativity is to a communication major. The "E" represents "Emancipation" and the "MC2" stands for Mariah Carey to the second power. So now that Mimi has been emancipated, she's twice as strong. While this theme of freedom has been central to her material since her divorce, Mariah needs to find a muse somewhere else.
The title says a lot because this album is like the sequel to her last one, The Emancipation of Mimi. Once again, Carey goes more R&B and wastes her five-octave voice by singing songs with lackluster range. There are a few exceptions in which she goes in for the kill, but the sound of nails on a chalkboard is preferable. The subject matter is the same, and the songs will not be classics like "Always Be My Baby."
That being said, the album is not completely forgettable, as there are a few noteworthy songs.
Carey's lead single, "Touch My Body," has already held the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, giving her more No. 1 hits than Elvis. This track is fun, and the video is even better; but simple beats and mediocre lyrics are the weak spots of this song. Yes, a lot of people would probably enjoy touching Carey's body, but her invitation comes off creepy as the vehicle of this fantastical song.
"I Stay In Love" is very decent, probably one of her best R&B songs yet. The sound and message are reminiscent of "Don't Forget About Us," as it deals with having a love so wonderful that even though it's over, she's still in love: "We said let go / But I keep on hanging on / ... / Baby, I stay in love with you." Poor, pitiful Carey ... This once, she showcases her range well without becoming annoying.
Carey even tries to capitalize on the current acronym trend. Her song "O.O.C.," which stands for "out of control," is funky and includes very profound phrases in different languages, including "Yo quiero mucho, papi." Unfortunately, she doesn't realize that the periods aren't necessary, and neither is this song.
The first few seconds of "For the Record" may sound familiar to MTV addicts because the song is used in the commercial for Carey's perfume. While this significantly cheapens the song, it's actually one of the disc's best cuts, layering violin with Carey's voice, which, with her vocal control, can be soft or powerful at her whim. Unfortunately, the theme is same: Carey wants to get back together with a past lover.
"Bye, Bye" is Mariah's second single from the album and is a bad song in a good disguise. While the melody is sweet and the lyrics even sweeter (it's a song about losing a loved one), it pales in comparison to "One Sweet Day," a duet with Boyz II Men on her album Fantasy, which had the same message.
Carey also collaborated with T-Pain, Damian Marley, and Young Jeezy on this album. "Migrate," featuring T-Pain, is a good dance song with a catchy melody and beat. The beginning is a tad annoying, however, because Carey reaches those hair-raisingly high notes. But it picks up. The song describes the events of any given night out: "From the car into the club, we migrate / From the bar to VIP, we migrate ." Very intelligent.
While some may think Carey is past her prime, she is still singing and selling records and tickets. This album isn't terrible, either. It has some good tunes that fit a variety of moods. But a lot of the praise she gets today is from those nostalgic for old Mariah. It'll be no surprise if this album goes to No. 1, because people love her. To quote "My All," "If it's wrong to [want Mariah at No. 1] / Then my heart just won't let me be right." B-
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