By Catherine Sodano
After having already started down the road of disastrous prior albums, one would think that Janet Jackson would try reinventing herself for her newly released CD, “Discipline.” Instead, Jackson used the same techno, synthesized tactics she usually does to try and gain attention for her new CD. All of the tracks on the album have a club theme and robotic beat. Her vocals were poor and teetering on the level of nonexistent-considering it was hard to tell her voice from the background singer’s.
Jackson’s previous CDs, “Damita Jo,” and “20 Y.O.” both battled with analogous negative press. Jackson uses vocal seductions to make sexual innuendo in a majority of her songs; employing sex metaphors such as “strum me like a guitar,” among many others to save little for the imagination.
There is absolutely no doubt that Jackson has the ability and talent to make a superb album, however it has yet to be seen. She has previously collaborated with superstars such as Justin Timberlake, Terry Lewis and many others. Her airy, breathy voice could be appealing if applied to the right song.
But Jackson proves on “Discipline” that no amount of talent can cover up lazy production and refried musical themes.
On the upside, rap phenomena T-Pain has collaborated with Janet on “Discipline.” She unsuccessfully tries to make the transition from pop, techno and urban hip-hop, all in one CD, but this did not work for the tone of the album. Jackson was able to utilize some of her skills through a scarce couple of ballads on the CD. Sister to Prince-of-Pop Michael Jackson, and baby sister to The Jackson 5, it is no secret talent runs in her blood.
Jackson has been making guest appearances on numerous talk shows, performing live to promote her new album, and has been receiving flack for lip-synching the entire performance. It would be unfair to judge a vocalist in the lime-light on whether they lip-synch or not, considering that the majority of celebrities do so on occasion. However, it would be beneficial for Jackson to use her pure talent to attract the type of positive publicity that she deserves.
After a banker in Tennessee launched a class action lawsuit against Jackson on behalf of “all American citizens who watched the outrageous conduct on the Superbowl,” it is no doubt she has reconsidered doing her once usual controversial performances from this point forward.
Whatever quibble may exist about Jackson; hopefully she will take the corrective criticism to produce another album that everyone will enjoy.