Pop Culture Buzz

GRADE: B

On her new CD Janet proclaims “strobe lights make everything sexier,” and after her last two flops, “Damita Jo” and “20 Y.O,” her latest disc is a welcome comeback. “Discipline” goes back to Janet’s dance floor roots with a much more lighthearted approach, and the relaxed vibe shines through on this disc.

Janet’s new CD hints back to her late 90’s classic “The Velvet Rope” but with a few more upbeat tracks. “Luv” is a terrific up-tempo Janet song with great single potential. “So Much Betta” is yet another hip-hop song to sample French dance pioneers Daft Punk with bad ass results.

Whenever Missy Elliott shows up as a guest on another artist’s album you know it is going to be a standout track. The high hat drum beat and smooth hip-hop flow with Missy’s rapping on the song “The 1″ has an old-school feel to it. Janet’s high pitched range is at its best on this track.

I could do without the self-indulgent 30 second sound bite/”songs” that have become a staple on Janet Jackson CD’s. They offer no real substance to the music as a whole and just end up irritating the listener with incessant interruptions throughout the album. I mean, how many times do we need to hear Janet whisper the hardships of love to birds chirping accompanied with a soft beat? (The grating “4 Words” is an example).

The best tracks on this disc are “Rock With U,” “Feedback” and “2Nite.” All three of these songs catapult Janet into another realm of pop music. Finally, Janet has caught up with the current trends in dance music and production values. These songs are ready for multiple dance remixes to be played at clubs everywhere. The same can be said for the fresh tribal beats on “Rollercoaster”.

Janet’s ballads slow down the fun pace of “Discipline” (the title track is like audio molasses). “Can’t Be Good” and “Greatest X” are fluffy R&B infused songs with pulsing hooks, but they both sound a little too familiar. “What’s Ur Name” and “Never Letchu Go” not only both suffer from the pretensions Prince spelling of their titles, but the mediocrity of their lyrics and generic sound.

The great thing about this album is that Janet has come back with something worth talking about and dancing to. Forget the mindless slow tracks — this disc is all about the new Janet who is ready to play at the gay clubs again. I am excited to hear the various remixes and club versions that “Discipline” will offer. It has been long time since we’ve been able to dance to a new Janet track.

WATCH THE “FEEDBACK” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:

THE NEW JANET JACKSON IS A BIT MORE “DISCIPLINED” ON HER NEW ALBUM THAN ON HER LAST TWO FLOPS