Janet Jackson – Discipline
The Janet Jackson new release “Discipline” is out. Now, was it better than her last offering?
Jermaine Dupri lends his production touch, along with Rodney Jerkins, Christopher Stewart & a host of great talents. The music has its groove & hypno sounds to it, but it didn’t move me to actually listen to Janet the way I wanted her to come back to the game. In fact, I thought this project didn’t do much better than the last. For some reason or another, I expected to hear music that transcended her “Control” & “R. Nation” CD’s. This project provided listeners with music that sounds too much like her younger generational R&B vocal talents. Maybe it will require another listen after the review, but for now….it didn’t move me.
The interludes: 9 of them. Was it an attempt to recreate the interlude magic Jam & Lewis dropped on the “Rhythm Nation” project? Maybe…
But for the music, there’s plenty of dance floor jams. You got “Feedback”, “Rollercoaster” & “Rock With U”. Again, the productions are off the chain. However I was struggling with the idea of seeing or hearing 41 year old Janet relate to it. “2Nite” was a pretty strong production, with a simple melody structured right into the composition (prevalent in all of her songs).
When the music slows down, Janet really starts to come to light & helps me to gravitate to her new sounds. “Never Letchu Go” written by Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal & Johnta Austin was nice!;, “Greatest X” sends an endearing thought of an x-lover to memory; Title Track “Discipline” takes the sensual approach from Janet as she gives her lover all access to adventurous love making….OK.
The one track that pretty much stuck to me was “Curtains”. I liked that one. The imaginary side of conducting a magical performance on a stage before the show starts. Her private show. Listen to it & you’ll catch her drift…
Music is in the eye of the beholder. I may not like for now, but it doesn’t mean the project as a whole may sneak up & startle me later. Or on you. May you be the judge….
Terrill J. Hanna
The Urban Music Scene
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