Music Review: Jennifer Lopez, 'Brave'

10/09/2007 4:00 PM, AP
Nekesa Mumbi Moody

Jennifer Lopez, "Brave" (Epic)

Given Jennifer Lopez's thin voice, it's hard to expect greatness when she puts out an album. But "Brave" disappoints even for J.Lo-adjusted standards. Chock full of tepid dance grooves, Lopez's voice has never sounded so weak and marginal as on this record.

After recording a Spanish-language album earlier this year, "Brave" is a return to Lopez's R&B-club roots — the kind of grooves that helped make her a multi-platform superstar.

In the past, Lopez scored big hits with sparkling jams that hid her vocal flaws while enticing listeners with irresistible beats. Those kind of tracks are hard to find on "Brave," which contains plenty of fourth-rate songs that sound like they were made for Brooke Hogan instead of an A-lister like Lopez.

"Do It Well" sounds dated and recycled thanks to the song's reliance on a sample of "Keep on Truckin'," already heavily used in hip-hop, as does "Gotta Be There," which uses a sample of Michael Jackson's overused "Gotta Be Where You Are." This is a woman known for her designer duds and oversized bling — can't she afford better production?

Even songs with original material are often weak, like "Mile in These Shoes," on which Lopez' voice sounds particularly nasal.

There are a few songs where Lopez manages to charm, mainly thanks to the strength of the song. The bouncy "Stay Together" is fun, mainly because the lyrics — "Stay together, that's the new trend" — are particularly captivating, given Lopez's much-publicized breakups.

And "I Need Love" is a nice enough uptempo groove. Still, it's not something you'll be rushing to hear a second time — a sentiment that summarizes most of "Brave."

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Lopez gives the right vocal performance — tender and vulnerable — on the album's best track, the lovely "Never Gonna Give Up," a lush, string-based ballad about overcoming heartbreak.