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The Emancipation Of Mimi - Mariah Carey
Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
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  1. Amazon.com
    90
    Emancipation works the kind of pure-pop magic that sets us all free.
  2. Blender
    80
    Sets the gold standard for diva records in 2005. [May 2005, p.118]
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  3. Vibe
    80
    Mariah gets back to her winning formula with Mimi. [May 2005, p.139]
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  4. The Guardian
    80
    Despite its grim title with its visions of messy self-absorption, The Emancipation of Mimi is - mostly - cool, focused and urban.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Heavy on ballads and midtempo love songs, it always keeps at least one foot (more often both feet) planted firmly in comforting old-school diva soul. [15 Apr 2005, p.76]
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  6. Slant Magazine
    70
    But whatever the songs lack, they make up for in restraint--brevity keeps you wanting more, which is really Mimi's virtue.
  7. Billboard
    70
    While her voice has lost some of its power through the years, "Mimi" deftly showcases her still-considerable pipes with strong lyrics and slick production.
  8. The New York Times
    70
    On "The Emancipation of Mimi," she disciplines herself into coherence, using fewer tricks and sounding more believable. She also finds what lesser singers can take for granted: a certain lightness that eases her constant sense of control. [11 Apr 2005]
  9. PopMatters
    70
    Carey does not completely hearken back to her old days, but The Emancipation of Mimi does prove her staying power.
  10. Stylus Magazine
    67
    It's easily the strongest album that she's made in this millennium, but suffers from the fact that her vocals have deteriorated.
  11. All Music Guide
    60
    It might not be as hip as it thinks it is, nor is it as catchy as it should be, but it's smooth and listenable.
  12. Dot Music
    50
    Charmingly forgettable.
  13. Los Angeles Times
    50
    Her sadly depleted voice is again propped up by multi-tracking, and the occasional dog-deafening shriek hardly proves she's recaptured her early acrobatic power. [10 Apr 2005]
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  14. Rolling Stone
    50
    There aren't any great songs among Mimi's club tunes and pop-chart-conscious tracks, and Carey is still suffering from a serious crisis of confidence.
  15. E! Online
    50
    A set of predictable, plastic, street-tough R&B jams.
  16. New Musical Express (NME)
    20
    'Mimi' manages the unique trick of being self-indulgent without actually ever sounding much like Mariah. [16 Apr 2005, p.51]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 225 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 134 out of 164
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 164
  3. Negative: 21 out of 164
  1. Skyblue93
    10
    An amazing R&B retro 70s through back album!!! Every single song is literally perfect. Her vocals are very through especially on Mine Again which she really show case it.… Full Review »
  2. kuzon
    9
    The album starts with the lead single "It's Like That", produced by Jermaine Dupri, with the line 'I came to have a party'. Unbeknownst to her, Mariah would definitely party-it-up with her comeback album, returning to her golden pedestal of the nineties. The singles are at the beginning (the aforementioned, "We Belong Together" and "Shake It Off") and they are definitely great songs. After that, Mariah lets "the voice" loose. On songs "Mine Again" and the Kanye-produced "Stay The Night", Mariah roars, proving detractors wrong; "the voice" is still there and very much present. She keeps her belting in check; she demonstrates exactly why she's placed in the upper echelon of vocalists, but doesn't over-do it (high-range whistles, melismatic thirty second pieces, etc..). After "Stay The Night", we get the light, poppy "Get Your Number". It's very reminiscent of her earlier nineties singles, based on a sample, but the theme is more mature. Mariah isn't singing about a dream lover taking her away or a guy that's making her feel a variety of emotions. Regardless, it's a very fun song. The next few tracks are all great with the exception of the other Neptunes-produced track, "To The Floor (Feat. Nelly)". We go from the beautifully written "Circles" ('but inside I kept repeating/'don't you let him see you cry'/and I casually turned my head/as the tears rolled down my eyes'), to the light, jovial "Your Girl". Tracks "I Wish You Knew" and "Joy Ride" are also pleasant to listen too. The gem of this album is the last track, the powerful "Fly Like A Bird". Words cannot describe the climax of the song, so it's best if you check it out yourself. 9. The two tracks by The Neptunes prevent this album from getting the perfect score, but they're not enough to give this album less than a nine.… Full Review »
  3. alleyt1989
    10
    This album is brilliant! Filled with potential singles, it cemented her comeback and showed that she wasn't just coming back with one song. Of course, We Belong Together is a standout, but It's Like That, Fly Like A Bird, Circles, Your Girl, Say Somethin', One And Only, I Wish You Knew, Joyride, heck I could name all the songs .... these are the standouts. A real strong album that threw her back into the limelight deservedly.… Full Review »
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