Mariah Carey - The Emancipation Of Mimi (2LP)

'Early buzz on The Emancipation of Mimi predicted that this would be the disc to mark “the return of the voice”–the voice being that glass-shattering instrument that propelled Carey to the bestselling female artist of all-time status–and mostly it is.

But because of the small army of talent involved in its assembly, the album is way more than just a comeback vehicle. For proof, try straight-ahead, look-out-Beyonce-Mimi’s-still-got-it “Mine Again,” or ’70s-soul cuddle-up, “Circles:” a don’t-attempt-on-American-Idol love song, or the gospel dazzlers “Fly Like a Bird,” and “Stay the Night.”

But for songs that steer this disc directly into 2005, no looking back, scan the jewel case for the tracks followed by the word “featuring”: “To the Floor,” with Nelly, bumps along to maximum booty-shaking effect, while Twista spins his natural-disaster-force vocals into “One and Only.” Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, and Jermaine Dupri also pitch in; between them and the highwire vocals, Emancipation works the kind of pure-pop magic that sets us all free. –Tammy La Gorce Our fifteen-anniversary reissue comes with four new bonus tracks.

Tracklist

1. It's Like That
2. We Belong Together
3. Shake It Off
4. Mine Again
5. Say Somethin'
6. Stay the Night
7. Get Your Number
8. One and Only
9. Circles
10. Your Girl
11. I Wish You Knew
12. To the Floor
13. Joy Ride
14. Fly Like a Bird
15. We Belong Together
16. Don't Forget About Us
17. Makin' It Last All Night (What It Do)
18. Sprung
19. Secret Love