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The Breakthrough
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The Breakthrough Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 58 Ratings

  • Summary: The R&B singer's latest includes a cover of U2's "One." The all-star roster of contributors includes Bono, Jay-Z, Raphael Saadiq, Dr. Dre and will.i.am.

Top Track

Be Without You
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you (Oh, oh, oh, oh) I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you (Oh, oh, oh,... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. AllMusic
    90
    One of her best studio albums.
  2. Stylus Magazine
    83
    The Breakthrough is easily Blige’s finest full-length since ‘99’s Mary.
  3. The New York Times
    80
    Ms. Blige brings together hip-hop realism and soul's higher aspirations, hip-hop's digitized crispness and soul's slow-building testimonies. [19 Dec 2005]
  4. Blender
    70
    Her ardent love songs ultimately come off not as love songs but standard ache-and-pain Mary tracks--making this album not quite the breakthrough it might have been. [Mar 2006, p.109]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. The Guardian
    70
    Blige may be celebrating no more drama in her life, but when she wants to, she can still sing like a drama queen. These are The Breakthrough's high points.
  6. E! Online
    67
    Someone get this woman some drama, pronto.
  7. Urb
    60
    All in all, it seems like the diva needs a little drama to get it percolatin'. [Mar 2006, p.123]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. Prince-AlbertJ
    Dec 20, 2005
    10
    This is mary's best song album yet. Strong vocals from mary. Great production. Very Consistent. The drama is over for now folks.
  2. TylerM
    Jan 4, 2007
    10
    I loved the album. tons of great inspirational songs that touched me in the right way! haha! I love it! Go Mary!
  4. Lshavers
    Dec 27, 2005
    10
    This CD is Mary coming full circle! I love the whole thing. She talks to everbody on this one! True Mary fans will know know how much This CD is Mary coming full circle! I love the whole thing. She talks to everbody on this one! True Mary fans will know know how much she's grown. This is going Triple Platinum for sure.… Expand
  5. AMac
    Jan 8, 2006
    10
    First let me say "ZIPPY" is on crack to not think Mary J Blige album is not a masterpiece.. The Breakthrough .. is Mary's finest work .. First let me say "ZIPPY" is on crack to not think Mary J Blige album is not a masterpiece.. The Breakthrough .. is Mary's finest work .. She is absolutely the greatest artist out in music.… Expand
  6. JamesJ
    Feb 23, 2006
    10
    Had to run it through the CD player a couple of times, but once it grabbed me, I couldn't turn it off
  7. WileyD
    Dec 21, 2005
    9
    This album is Hot...critics are rarely ever right.
  8. Zippy
    Jan 4, 2006
    1
    Uninspired, formula pop/r&b junk. nothing that hasn't been done before. Yawn.

See all 33 User Reviews

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