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Mariah! Mary! Madonna! Here they come — all at once, each one swooping in with new beats during the next few months. Can Mariah eclipse her super-sized comeback opus? Can Mary do better than √íJust Fine√ì? And can Justin Timberlake help Madonna appeal to his generation of music-worshiping minors?}
Mary J. Blige
ÔGrowing PainsÕ
Due: Dec. 18
Mary J. Blige is just so damn happy. Too happy? Maybe. After sheÕs endured more pain than road kill, weÕre elated to hear the fierce croonerÕs ÒJust Fine,Ó as she overemphasizes on the unmelodious lead single to ÒGrowing Pains,Ó her eighth studio album. On it, she copes with success and tackles deadbeat men on ÒNowhere Fast.Ó Which is a plus, Õcause this newfound light just doesnÕt translate to the overly-repetitive first singleÕs chorus. If Blige wants her big ÒBreakthroughÓ sequel to shine like her down-and-out ditties, just fine ainÕt gonna cut it.
Mariah Carey
Untitled
Due: Early 2008
Oh, Mariah. Call her crazy. Or loopy. Or fat. Or fake. Don√ït deny, though, that she made a sonic splash with √íThe Emancipation of Mimi.√ì The Queen of Vocal Pyrotechnics weathered some storm clouds — and that infamous tsunami √íGlitter√ì — to overwhelming response: √íWe Belong Together√ì cozied into the No. 1 spot on Billboard√ïs Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks, the disc was the No. 1 selling album of 2005 and, to boot, she added two Grammys to her award mantel. Now, Carey√ïs calling its follow-up √íMimi√ì: Part Two. Though this is the longest MC has made us wait (single, where are you?), it√ïs not like the multi-octave girly-girl√ïs been chasing butterflies, gazing at rainbows — or pushing around an ice cream cart (TRL, anyone?). She√ïs helping people smell yummy with her marshmallow-y perfume, √íM.√ì Here√ïs hoping her 11th album is just as sweet.
Madonna
Untitled
Due: Early 2008
Whoa — Madge and R&B? The ever-evolving diva enlists firepower producer Pharrell Williams for the follow-up to her 2005 ceaseless bump-and-grind √íConfessions on a Dance Floor,√ì scoring her a sixth Grammy award. No single has been announced for her 11th studio album — rumored to be called √íConnextion√ì — but √íCandy Shop,√ì a Williams co-written and co-produced number, already has leaked to the Internet. Justin Timberlake and beatmaker Timbaland, who√ïs comparing the disc to Timberlake√ïs crunk electro-sonic √íFutureSex/LoveSounds,√ì also are on board for the forthcoming project. Timbaland told MTV that one track, √íLa, La,√ì would somewhat mimic Madge√ïs be-boppin√ï bubblegum pop days. Minus the booby cones.
