Mary

08/24/1999 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Billy Johnson Jr

Some may not want to hear this, but Mary's title needs to be changed from Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul to simply, The New Queen Of Soul. No disrespect to Aretha. You'd actually need to hear the two singing side by side on "Don't Waste Your Time" to welcome the thought. Aretha literally hands the crown to Ms. Blige on the incredible Babyface-produced song whose violins and acoustic guitars enhance their soul-filled conversation on heartache.

Mary's maturation is evident throughout the simply titled Mary. The overt hip-hop injections that were so infectious on hits "Real Love," "Be Happy," and even Share My World's "I Can Love You" are absent from Mary, but surprisingly not missed. While the Lox member Jadakiss raps on "Sexy," the vibe remains cool and sleek. And when things become brash on "No Lookin'," a teaming with ex-boyfriend K-Ci, it's grossly out of place, lacking the appeal of their classic "I Don't Want To Do Anything" from Mary's 1992 debut What's The 411?.

Mary now sounds more comfortable addressing issues of pain and love with less attitude and more passion. "Not Gon' Cry" from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack was rooted in anger, but Mary's equally mellow "Memories," dramatic '70s-feeling "The Love I Never Had," and the depressing blow of reality "No Happy Holidays" recount problematic relationships from a more stable perspective. On "Your Child," Mary maintains a calm and rational tone while coping with the news that her boyfriend's abandoned his child.

Mary's never sang about love more sincerely than she does on the album's other ballads. Peaceful and angelic background vocals on the Lauryn Hill-penned and produced first release "All That I Can Say," intricate guitar proposal "Beautiful One," and the Gap Band remake "I'm In Love" make diehard fans appreciate her growth.

She only picks up the pace twice on the album. Sharp, acoustic guitars and bass strings liven up "Time," and Mary proves her ability to shine as a disco queen on the Cheryl Lynn, Donna Summer, and Gloria Gaynor-approving "Let No Man Put Asunder."

Mary's beginnings as a hip-hop-inspired R&B singer helped bring her rhythmic testimonies to life. But on her fourth album of original material, she's discovered how to do the same thing without relying on hip-hop sensibilities, and the outcome assures that she's able to leave a legacy like her predecessors Chaka and Aretha.