Mariah Carey - Charmbracelet
List Price:
Our Price: $4.40
You Save: $9.58 (69%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.71 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Mariah CareyEdition: Music CD
Published: 2002
CD Release Date: 2002-12-03
Music Label: Island
Soundtracks:
- Through The Rain
- Boy (I Need You) feat. Cam'Ron
- The One
- Yours
- You Got Me feat. Jay-Z and Freeway
- I Only Wanted
- Clown
- My Saving Grace
- You Had Your Chance
- Lullaby
- Irresistible (Westside Connection)
- Subtle Invitation
- Bringin' On The Heartbreak
- Sunflowers For Alfred Roy
- Through The Rain (Remix) feat. Kelly Price and Joe
Music reviews of Charmbracelet
Music Review: 'Charming' like fine wine... improves with age (despite very poor sequencing)
Rating: 4 Stars
Forget 'Charmbracelet.' The title of this 2002 release should be 'My Apology.' 'Charmbracelet' of course isn't Mariah Carey's comeback album, seeing as 'The Emancipation of Mimi' has deservedly earned that title, but it is the album that showed listeners Mariah was not giving up. After a major career setback due to the lack of reception of the 'Glitter' movie and album, Mariah has come back with an album that seems to be a collected, if desperate, attempt to re-connect with her fans, seeing as several of the songs take on themes and musical styles that reflect some of her former hits and songs (shoot, she even references her old songs in the lyrics of several numbers here). The album is a way of re-establishing her as the artist she once was. And it works. For the most part.
'Charmbracelet' shines lyrically where 'Glitter' turned to dust. It is a very poigniant and personal album, which has rightfully earned Mariah a spot back in my CD player. Probably the most personal album Mariah has done, alongside 'Butterfly' and 'Rainbow.' I adore the lyrics to each and every song. I love the vulnerability Mariah offers here. When so many other artists lack true soul-bearing in their songs, Mariah accomplishes it very well on this album. It is probably her best album lyrically, apart from 'Butterfly.'
The first single and the opener, "Through The Rain" is a sweet, typical Mariah ballad that doesn't quite measure up to its predecessors ("Without You," "Can't Take That Away," "Butterfly," and the icon-ish "Hero"). The lyrics are a very personal reflection of where Mariah has been. It's a nice number that long-time Mariah fans will like.
The majority of the rest of the "Charmbracelet" album is a mellow, soft album of slow and mid-tempo R&B grooves. A few up-tempo tracks and a couple guest rappers spice the album up in a few places, but for the most part, this one is a reflective album more along the lines of 'Butterfly' and 'Music Box.'
The commercial problem with 'Charmbracelet' is the musical lack of "hits." Not many of the songs on 'Charmbracelet' are musically tuned to earn them a spot on #1. And I think Mariah is okay with that for this album. You have to look at 'Charmbracelet' for what it is: an offer, or even perhaps an apology, to reconnect with her fans and show the world that she's still Mariah. It doesn't try to rewind to the past to her earlier hits, but it doesn't jump full-force into the future where the #1 hits lie.
The real problem with 'Charmbracelet' is sequencing. "Through the Rain" is a perfect opener, followed by the up-tempo "Boy (I Need You)," the midtempo R&B groove of "The One," the hip-hop number "You Got Me," and ballads, such as "Yours," "I Only Wanted," the exceptional "Clown" and the shimmering gospel number "My Saving Grace." All these songs keep listeners interested and happy. But after the eighth track, "Grace," is where 'Charmbracelet' falls down hill. The tracks toward the middle/end of the disc spin out similar beats, melodies, even keys. This causes the songs to run together. "You Had Your Chance," "Lullaby," and "Irresistable" all share very similar beats and melodies, and they all happen to be placed one right after another on the disc. "Chance" and "Lullaby" are two good songs that would stand out between other tracks. But adjacently placed on the disc, they run together in a bland fashion. The boring "Irresistable" will cause listeners to lose interest, missing the true quality of the following number, "Subtle Invitation," a track that could have been a stand-out number on the disc.
Mariah redeems herself at the end of the CD with an excellent cover of "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" and the bittersweet personal ballad "Sunflowers" about her late father. The CD ends with a more uptempo version of "Through the Rain" with Joe and Kelly Price.
Overall, 'Charmbracelet' is a good CD that could have been a great one with a little better sense of sequencing. Still, lyrically stunning, it deserves a play and re-play. And trust me, if you don't quite "get it" the first time you listen, play it again. `Charmbracelet' is like fine wine: it improves with age.
The Songs...
1. "Through The Rain" 9/10: an encouraging and refreshing turn to form for Carey, as it is the album's first single. On a personal level, it seems like an anthem for her as well, following the major career setback of `Glitter.' Not quite as powerful as "Hero" and the like, it is still a shimmering number that will lift most listeners out of despair and turn their hearts toward hope.
2. "Boy (I Need You)" 7/10: a pseudo-continuation of Cam'Ron's hit "Oh, Boy." The guest rapper gives a rather lengthy rap verse towards the middle of the song, while Mariah handles the verses. It's cute. Nothing more to say about it.
3. "The One" 8/10: With a little better production, this could have been a considerably good hit for Mariah. It needs a little more spice, which is taken care of in the excellent remix not on this disc, but it is lyrically clever and has a catchy beat and tune.
4. "Yours" 9/10: Mariah's voice soars on this track. It is a nice, smooth, easy-listening ballad.
5. "You Got Me" 8/10: Using the same "chipmunk"-style voicing as "Boy," this hip-hop track has a little more spice to it. The lyrics are much more clever, and the b-sections and bridge are outstanding. Freeway's intro rap verse is great. Jay-Z's breakdown is as disposable as used toilet paper.
6. "I Only Wanted" 10/10: A wonderful guitar ballad, very reminiscent of her previous ballads "My All," "After Tonight," and even "I Don't Wanna Cry." Beautiful classical guitar solo here, and ocean sounds at the end. Excellent number.
7. "Clown" 10/10: One of the CD's best. Clever, mid-tempo R&B diss number directed toward Eminem (although he is not mentioned by name) about the rumors he spread about them and his relationship with his mother.
8. "My Saving Grace" 10/10: An excellent gospel number, and the most overtly religious song Mariah has done since 1994's `Merry Christmas.' The intro may have worked better as a separate track (interlude), but the entire piece is wonderful!
9. "You Had Your Chance" 8/10: A catchy R&B number that, with better sequencing, would have probably stood out.
10. "Lullaby" 9/10: A lyrically clever R&B ditty, reminiscent of 1997's "The Roof" (it actually references some of the lyrics of the song) It gets lost in the poor sequencing of the album's second half, which is a shame because it's excellent.
11. "Irresistible (West Side Connection)" 4/10: My least favorite song on the album. Weak lyrics, a bland melody & beat, and an annoying breakdown by West Side Connection. Makes the already poor sequencing choice for the album even worse.
12. "Subtle Invitation" 8/10: Good, mid-tempo, funk-sounding number. It's lyrically excellent, and references a few of Mariah's past hits.
13. "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" 10/10: This Mariah cover is pitch-perfect. It is updated a bit, but still holds true to its rock origin. It's interesting to hear Mariah do something like this for a change, rock usually is not her thing, and it greatly stands out from most of the CD's tracks. The high note towards the end, and the ending itself are terrific!
14. "Sunflowers For Alfred Roy" 10/10: Brief, beautiful ballad written about the reconciliation with and death of Carey's late father (Alfred Roy Carey). Lyrically poignant, enough that a few lines even brought tears to my eyes. Superb.
15. "Through The Rain (Remix)" 8/10: An R&B makeover of the original, featuring Joe and Kelly Price. Works well as a soul track, and closes out the album in a very practical fashion.
Description of Charmbracelet
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Mariah Carey's ninth album has been touted as her comeback album, coming as it does after the belly flop that produced the overwrought soundtrack to her ill-fated film, Glitter. With Charmbracelet, Carey goes out of her way to fix all those aesthetic glitches, tempering the overblown vocals, simpering lyrics, and uninspired funk covers of her last album and returning to what she does best--showcasing her magnificent five-octave voice and pillaging her lift history for inspiration. After her breakup with superstar Luis Miguel, MTV meltdown, hospitalization for exhaustion, and the death of her father, Carey had a lot of emotional baggage to sift through. She has and, as a result, has created an inspired and diverse 15-song opus that finds her skipping from an impassioned Aretha Franklin-like gospel ("Saving Grace") to an impish cover of Def Leppard's power ballad "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." Though he's not mentioned by name, rapper Eminem is given a pointed drubbing on "Clowns" for hinting in the press and in his own song "Superman" of a relationship with Carey. There hasn't been such a compelling musical soap opera since Carly Simon's '70s roman à clef, "You're So Vain." However, the disc's most inspiring moment comes on "Sunflowers for Alfred Roy," a wistful elegy for her father that recounts his final days in his hospital room. This is a stunning return to form for Carey. --Jaan Uhelszki
Dance & DJ CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Dance & DJ CDs
J'ai Ete au Bal: I Went to the Dance, Vol. 1Release date: 1993-12-01; Music CD
Best price: $11.15
Price in other shops:
Fibre - Sub Aquatic MemoriesRelease date: 2011-01-14; Music CD
Best price: $0.99
Price in other shops:
Paul Schutze - Deus Ex MachinaRelease date: 1997-08-19; Music CD
Best price: $8.99
Chubb Rock, G-Man - Treat Me RightRelease date: 1996-12-24; Music CD
Best price: $6.97
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-09-25; Music CD
Best price: $24.29
Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors - StillpointRelease date: 1996-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $7.88
Price in other shops:
Ganga - River Of LoveRelease date: 2001-08-15; Music CD
Best price: $10.58
Price in other shops:
Karuna - Devotional SongsRelease date: 1997-08-13; Music CD
Best price: $13.64
Price in other shops:
Christian Bruckner, Eva M Hagen - Der Fall GreenfieldRelease date: 2006-08-25; Music CD
Best price: $16.96
Martin Schneider - Best of MaddinRelease date: 2003-12-08; Music CD
Best price: $18.04
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Mariah Carey - RemixesRelease date: 2003-10-14; Music CD
Best price: $9.44
Mariah Carey - DaydreamRelease date: 1995-10-03; Music CD
Best price: $7.14
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - RainbowRelease date: 2008-03-11; Music CD
Best price: $2.89
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - Mariah CareyRelease date: 1990-05-15; Published: 1990; Music CD
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - E=MC2Release date: 2008-04-15; Music CD
Best price: $3.59
Price in other shops:
GlitterRelease date: 2001-09-11; Published: 2001; Music CD
Best price: $3.63
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - Music BoxRelease date: 1993-08-31; Music CD
Best price: $3.27
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi - Platinum EditionRelease date: 2005-11-15; Music CD
Best price: $7.97
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - EmotionsRelease date: 2008-02-01; Music CD
Best price: $2.64
Price in other shops:
Mariah Carey - Memoirs of an Imperfect AngelRelease date: 2009-09-29; Music CD
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops: