Janet - Damita Jo

On her eighth studio album, Damita Jo--the title lifted from her middle name--Janet Jackson teams up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis once again on what is perhaps the most feverish album in her two decade long career. Whether she's taking the listener on a torrid excursion in the four song island suite, or boasting of her sexual prowess on "Sexhibition's" word games lyrics, where she tells fans "relax, it's just sex," the singer tries hard--maybe too hard--to establish herself as a sexual avatar with portfolio. But in "Strawberry Bounce," she seems more like a pole dancer in stilettos than a social revolutionary, as she catalogs the way she plans to make her inamorato lose control, and she just sounds silly on "Moist," which extols the female orgasm. Instead, the best moments on the album are when Jackson comes off as saucy and winsome instead of a heavy breather, like on the down-tempo "Thinkin' Bout My Ex," her collaboration with Babyface, which seems lifted right out of her autobiography, and on the athletic Prince clone "Just A Little While." The title track is Jackson's own version of J-Lo's "Jenny On the Block," and she sounds just as insincere as Lopez when she tried to convince us that she was just an ordinary neighborhood diva. Instead, Janet’s much more persuasive when she joins up with hip-hop savant Kanye West on "My Baby," pairing her breathy, little girl vocals to his sharp, focused rap. Then and only then does Damita Jo sound like love can actually trump sex. --Jaan Uhelszki Amazon.com

JANET JACKSON "DAMITA JO"

This is definitely one of Janet's best albums, it's just a shame that she didn't go on tour to support it.

"Damita Jo,"
"Strawberry Bounce,"
"Spending Time With You,"
"Island Life,"
"All Nite (Don't Stop),"
"R&B Junkie,"
"Thinkin' Bout My Ex,"
"Slolove"
and
"Just A Little While" ALL get 10 out of 10 from me :)

An EXCELLENT album from Janet Jackson!
July 21, 2008

Wake up to the most slept-on album of Miss Jackson's career

To be honest, I was kind of hoping Janet Jackson was going to give the sex thing a rest after 2001's artistically disappointing `All for You.' Actually, I liked that album's "baby-makers"---especially the exotic "China Love" and the spacey "Would You Mind"---but I didn't care for much of the album's poppy, sugar-coated filler. It felt oddly disposable, a step backward coming as it did after the artistic complexity of 1997's `The Velvet Rope.' Further, I just figured she had pushed the exploration of her sexuality as far as it could go. Consider a line like "Come inside of me/Letting your juices free/Deep in my passion." It was as if Jackson were auditioning to become a Vivid Girl---the chocolate Jenna Jameson. I felt what Miss Jackson needed was new theme, to get some new creative juices flowing, as it were.

Looking at the tracklist of 2004's `Damita Jo' weeks prior to its release, it was clear sex was still going to be her topic of choice: "All Nite (Don't Stop)" "Strawberry Bounce" "Slolove" "Moist" "Sexhibition." To boot, the album cover was merely a black-and-white take on the "All for You" album cover: a topless shot, her breasts covered with her arms against a plain white background. "Oh, boy: Here we go again," I thought, expecting to burn a few songs, and sell the thing later that week. Yet four years later, `Damita Jo' still finds its way into the disc player. Why? The album is a deceptively rich listen, but it takes some time for its charms to fully reveal themselves.

On the front end, `Damita Jo' does not have anything like the unstoppable, chart-topping singles of Janet Jackson's past. Nothing here will get etched into your brain upon first listen---this, I believe, is what let down many longtime fans. Then again, nothing here approaches the cloying pop cutesiness that marred most of `All for You.' Instead, Jackson ventures beyond Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (though they do appear on a few tracks) to assemble a grab-bag team of producers: Rockwilder, Kanye West, Scott Storch and Dallas Austin among others. The results lack the catchy immediacy she has always been associated with, swapping the sonic density Jam and Lewis usually give her, in favor of a refreshing urban sparseness. Plus, at 64 minutes, it's a full 10 minutes shorter than the three albums that preceded it.

As previously stated, `Damita Jo' covers very familiar thematic territory: love and lots of sex. However, her production team on this album takes her to newer musical places. "I Want You," all stuttering snares and swooping strings, is Jackson first full on doo-wop song, and damned if it's not one of the sweetest things she's ever recorded. "R&B Junkie" is galloping retro electro funk. "My Baby" (featuring Kanye West) sounds pretty cliché at first, until you realize it's a Valentine to Jermaine Dupri ("Many a days I face/The pressure to walk away/From what the people say/But you mean so much to me"). It is also uncharacteristically spare for a Janet Jackson song: hip-hop beats, lilting acoustic guitars, and cooing backing vocals---not much else.

Much has been made of the album's explicit sexuality. Indeed, "Warmth" plays like "Would You Mind" focused on the "suck you" part that song's lyric. Detractors have called this track "boring," "nasty," even "degrading." But I can't helped getting---pardon the pun---sucked in to the song's dreamy atmosphere. Rockwilder fashions a sonic steam bath out of throbbing bass, swirling wah-wah guitars, and gently cascading harmonies. Who knew a song about roadside fellatio could sound so celestial? "Moist" is similarly, ahem, in your face, with its sighing refrain of "feel my rain come/pouring, soaking." The music, though, has a surprising tropical Latin-jazz twist---it's pretty hot and wet.

Rest assured, Jackson is fairly demure about her desires on other tracks. "Spending Time With You" doesn't get more descriptive than fantasizing about going "room to room, making sweet love" amid its yogurty mid-tempo groove. The lyrics of "Slolove" ("Can't control the heat/When our bodies meet") spare us the grisly details of previous tracks, while providing yet another musical surprise---this time, lush, strobe-lit deep house courtesy of BAG & Arnthor. "All Nite (Don't Stop)" has a percolating dance-hall beat, a funk bassline, ambient synth washes, and heavy breathing--but it turns out to be about dancing. The most sensual song is also the least explicit: "Truly" glides on shimmering Fender Rhodes and fingers snaps, with Jackson's nearly whispered intonations of love floating above. It perfectly captures the feeling of glistening with afterglow, without describing how wet the sheets have gotten or what the room smells like by now.

`Damita Jo' does have its skip tracks. "Like You Don't Love Me" is badly dated, sounding like a TLC outtake from 1992. "Thinkin' `Bout My Ex" is a Babyface collaboration that should have happened 10 years prior, and sounds like it did. Moreover, "Just A Little While" is the wrong way to close this album---with a funk-rock experiment that just didn't quite click. Nevertheless, `Damita Jo' is far more consistent than critics---and more than a few disappointed fans---have given it credit for. It is not quite the full-on creative rebound from `All for You' that it should have been, but it's her best since `The Velvet Rope'---and her best of the 2000s so far. Pick up one of those $0.17 copies and see for yourself---just be sure to give it more than a few listens.
July 2, 2008

"Damita Jo"-The 3 Sides of Janet: Strawberry, DJ and Janet

So if, "All 4 U" was the downfall of Janet musically, then "Damita Jo" was the downfall of Janet commerically. Thanks to the nationwide debacle of 2004's Superbowl Halftime show in which Justin Timberlake and Janet performed a duet that ended with Janet's right breast being revealed at the end. The FCC was outraged as well as charged over 500,000 by CBS, Parents were outraged all over the country, and MTV pretty much banned the woman they once honored as their first Icon surprisely! Whether the incident was planned or an accident, Janet faced one of the toughest times of her career and it couldn't have come at a worst time with her album right around the corner. "Damita Jo", Janet's middle name, is the megastar's 8th album and I consider it one of her weaker effects. Not to say "Damito Jo" is bad as I would never consider a Janet album bad! It's a pretty good album, but it's much more R&B influenced which is fine with me, but might not be enjoyable for her pop fans. In the interviews during that era, Janet said the album saw herself introducing her 2 alter egos: Damita Jo and Strawberry. Damito Jo being her take-charge, attitude fueled self and Strawberry being her sexually driven self. My problem with Damita Jo is that unlike most Janet albums, it isn't diverse, with staying strickly with it's r&b sound. This album can be summed up like this:

Looking For Love-Janet explains she's looking for love.

Damita Jo-A slick r&b jam that sees Janet singing about being a down to earth diva despite being the superstar she is. While a decent song overall, Janet's version of "Jenny From the Block" is less convincing seeing she's been in the business for over 20 years.-3.5/5 stars

Sexhibition-A funky r&b track with an infectious beat and Janet sings with excitment. The lyrics are a play on words like the title but it's a fun tune!-4/5 stars

Strawberry Bouce-Another fun song with a bouncy r&b beat, a 50s style sound effect, and a Jay-Z sample from "Can I Get A". It sounds ridiculous but the song is quite iressistible and one of favorites from the album.-4/5 stars

My Baby-A drowsy r&b groove with Janet singing about her lover and Kanye West providing a random rap solo. It's nice, but doesn't have any spark to it.-3.5/5 stars

The Islands-Janet talks about why she loves the islands.

Spending Time With You-A very cool and smooth mid-tempo track with Janet's cutsy vocals. It really does make you want to go on a trip to the islands after you listen.-4/5 stars

Magic Hour-It's the magic hour with Janet, yay!

Island Life-A nice fast paced mid-tempo track that continues the island theme with Janet providing some nice vocals toward the end.-3.5/5 stars

All Nite (Don't Stop)-One of the few straight dance tracks on the album, this up-tempo dance thriller is a true highlight. With it's electric dancehall beat mixed with a country undertone and Janet's sexy, whispery vocals, this is a keeper!-4.5/5 stars

R&B Junkie-A great throwback track that very reminiscent of Janet's pre-Control music. Janet's vocals sound very youthful and the old school feel is perfect.-4/5 stars

I Want You-A lovely 70s inspired ballad produced by Kanye West where Janet sings about how much she wants her lover. As one of the singles from the album, Janet got flack as many though the song needed by vocals to support it, but Janet's vocals matched the song perfectly-4/5 stars

Like You Don't Love Me-A cool retro R&B track that is reminiscent of TLC's music from the 90s. One of the better songs of album, Janet sings with attitude about her lover ignoring her for another woman.-4/5 stars

Thinkin' Bout My Ex-Timing up with Babyface, This is a smooth emotional ballad that sees Janet singing about the ex she let get away. I love how the song builds up and Janet excells throughout.-4/5 stars

Warmth-Probably the weakest of Janet's baby making song history, this slow moving steamer has Janet singing about...uhh...going down on her man and getting that warm feeling inside. Hard to believe "Would You Mind" seems tame in comparision.-3/5 stars

Moist-Another sexy ballad that start off as a soothing groove but loses steam halfway was through and just bores until the end.-2/5 stars

It All Comes Down To Love-Janet repeats the title over and over.

Truly-A nicely little ballad but it's just doesn't stand out and is rather bland at times.-2.5/5 stars

The One-Janet talks about the one.

SloLove-One of the few tracks that differs from the rest of the album, this is a disco/techo track that brings us back to her pop paradise of "All 4 U". I don't listen to this one as often as I should, but it's a good track.-3.5/5 stars

Country-Janet makes fun of her country roots and her nickname "Dunk".

Just A Little While-A song that feels incredibly out of place on this album, this is a rock/pop track that I always found unbearably cheesy and always wondered why it was a single. Thankfully this was the last track on the album as I don't have to skip it.-2/5 stars

"Damita Jo", while not the greatest album, is a decent effort by Ms. Jackson. The album, of course, went to number #2 on the BB charts and sold a disappointing 1 million copies in the U.S. But All Nite Don't Stop went to #1 on the Dance Club airplay charts. It's worth a purchase as there is some soothing music on here despite some bland songs here and there. March 9, 2008

The Worst of Janet.....

I swear....as soon as the millenium started, everything went worst...including this album. The main problem is Janet just sticks to the same old thing. The majority of the songs talks about sex. It's kinda like a sequel to All For You, but All For You was waaay better! It's like reading a Zane book! Everyone thinks that her debut and 2nd albums were the worst, but it's truly this album. At least they were more fun and catchy to listen to!!!! There are barely songs in this album that standout and I could dance to. The only songs I like are: All Nite (Don't Stop), I Want You (the only thing close to classic Janet), Sexibition, and Strawberry Bounce. I hate the rest!!!! Usually Janet would come out with albums that have more groundbreaking beats and a good theme. And I would usually love it! I don't find this album to be creative at all. If someone is a newcomer to Janet's music, I would always recommend Rhythm Nation, janet., or Control. Just not this album.





March 1, 2008

Horrible Interludes + 4 Great Tracks = An Average Album

"Damita Jo" is perhaps my least favorite Janet record, though it does contain some of her best songs. The worst part about it are the horrendous interludes. What became Janet's trademark after "1814" are reduced to pathetic come-ons here. As a longtime Janet fan I was insulted by the idiocy on display here. Toward the end of the album, the interludes become even more nonsensical - the one called "Country" is absolutely useless. I can only hope she begins to use Interludes wisely on her upcoming albums, because quite frankly they thoroughly disgusted me on this CD.

"I Want You", which in the beginning was my least favorite Janet song, is now my favorite song off the album. It took a while but I got there! The reason for this is the very Marvin Gaye meets Sade vibe the song has. You might not 'get' it the first time you listen to it, but once you let it play on repeat, you will begin to rediscover it. This song was made for rediscovery!

"All Nite" and "R&B Junkie" are the next best songs. Both were singles, and both are classic Janet, singalong choruses included. The only downside is that no one I knew could figure out what Janet was even saying on "All Nite". Even with the lyrics in front of you, its hard to keep up. The latter, however, is a great Prince-influenced track that sounds like it belongs in 1979, which works for me.

The fourth best track here "Spending Time With You", a sultry groove-ridden Janet track that is an absolute classic. No one can ride a groove like Janet on a good day, and this is a blessed example of that. In fact, the addictive chorus and sick beats will make you hit repeat on this one for a long time to come.

The good unfortunately ends there. Janet is known for her amazing album opening tracks, but this album opens very, very weakly. The lead song is actually an interlude called "Damita Jo", and while it sounds like fun, it isn't much. Much worse are some of the sex-obsessed songs here like "Sexhibition", and "Warmth" which frankly don't make any sense. Hasn't Janet being making these sexually suggestive songs for a while now? It sounds tedious, the lyrics are awful, and none of it is even worth listening to more than once. Yeah, "Moist" has a very interesting sound to it, but can you honestly understand what she's saying?

"Damita Jo" has four wonderful songs, but is a pale shadow of the Janet we used to know and love. Her 1993 Masterpiece "janet" remains the pinnacle of her artistic achievement. How can a woman capable of "If", lower herself and make something as meaningless as "Just a Little While"? We'll never know.

If you're a huge Jackson supporter, as I am, you might want to get this to complete your collection. For the rest of you though, you might want to listen to a few samples before you make a purchase decision. For the record, this is the cheapest Janet Jackson album of all when you buy it used, so maybe that should tell you something... January 16, 2008

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