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- By date
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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.
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Carey does not completely hearken back to her old days, but The Emancipation of Mimi does prove her staying power.
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New Musical Express (NME)'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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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.
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Despite its grim title with its visions of messy self-absorption, The Emancipation of Mimi is - mostly - cool, focused and urban.
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Entertainment WeeklyHeavy 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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But whatever the songs lack, they make up for in restraint--brevity keeps you wanting more, which is really Mimi's virtue.
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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]
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BlenderSets the gold standard for diva records in 2005. [May 2005, p.118]
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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.
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Los Angeles TimesHer 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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Charmingly forgettable.
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It’s easily the strongest album that she’s made in this millennium, but suffers from the fact that her vocals have deteriorated.
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A set of predictable, plastic, street-tough R&B jams.
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Emancipation works the kind of pure-pop magic that sets us all free.
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VibeMariah gets back to her winning formula with Mimi. [May 2005, p.139]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 368 out of 568
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Mixed: 85 out of 568
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Negative: 115 out of 568
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May 19, 2012
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Jan 30, 2012
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Mar 14, 2015