I hadn't been too keen on the "Emotions" single and had prematurely written "sophomore slump" on her forehead. With Music Box being on power play at the retail store I worked, I was not only quick to erase those words from her forehead but found myself offering to shine her shoes as well. If her debut was a delicious chocolate truffle, Music Box was a truffle with extra maple syrup and a drop of brandy that brings the heart to a nice and sizzling warmth.

The first single and #1 hit "Dreamlover" from opening keyboards, high-pitched note, and dreamy vocals accompanied by drum-machines and synths make this more lush than "Someday" from her debut. She speaks for millions when she sings "Dreamlover come and rescue me."/...take me anywhere you want to baby now."

Three Mariah ballads in a row, especially by her and Walter Afanasieff, is like taking a bath in warm latte. Ooh, that feels soooo good! I don't know if Mariah read any Joseph Campbell before doing "Hero", but the opening words "There's a hero/if you look inside your heart" belies that inner journey. Yet I get so enveloped with this song, I keep thinking she's the one to rescue some poor slob.

"Anytime You Need A Friend" has shades of "All Alone In Love" from her debut, but it's enhanced by her usual gospelish backing chorus that includes Kelly Price. Her voice has very strong R&B stylings here. After hearing this I thought, Whitney who?

The title track begins with keys that sound like an actual music box, and is a more quieter and tender affair. Key lyrics: "You take me through the loneliness and the emptiness/And I feel alright 'cause you're by my side."

Clivilles and Cole of the C&C Music Factory get Mariah boogeying down with "Now That I Know" with the skippy percussion. It's the kind of song Taylor Dayne would've torn her hair to get--but she doesn't have the range. There's some old disco-style synths here. The other song they do for her, "I've Been Thinking About You" is the same skippy 80's Paula Abdul-style dance floor pop.

Another three ballads in a row? Stop! Oh, this is sheer bliss!
Mariah and Babyface did the music, lyrics, and backing vocals for "Never Forget You" is one of those "I'll remember you" kind of songs for a departed lover. Then comes her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You". While she admirably does this, I find myself siding with Heart's rendition of it on Magazine. "Just To Hold You Once Again" with its resonant organ synth and gospel choir is another "Whitney who?" song. "Even though you're not my lover/even though you're not my friend/I would give my all/to have you ehre/just to hold you once again" goes the chorus. I would give my all? But that's two albums away.

"All I Ever Wanted" which follows the second C&C song, is my favourite ballad here, as it's one loving embrace of a song, hair softly brushing against ear, cheek to cheek, slow-dancing,... it's so wonderful I can't listen to it time after time without melting.

Music Box, with its seven(!) ballads, is one of the three diamonds in the Mariah tiara (hey, that kinda rhymes). The first was of course her debut, and the third would be this album's successor, and was it a daydream come true!

I have been listening to Mariah Carey almost since her debut in 1990 but it was after listening to Music Box that I became a dedicated Mariah Fan. That conviction was further strengthened after she came out with Daydream and Butterfly even though all 3 albums show a gradual progression from Pop/Soft Rock to R&B/Hip Hop. My favorite tracks from this album as follows: 1. Hero (just listen to the lyrics and you will start crying) 2. All I've Ever Wanted (if you have ever really loved someone you may realize how much significance this song has) 3. Music Box (Beautiful Melody !) 4. Just To Hold You Once Again 5. Anytime You Need A Friend 6. Dreamlover (Rocked Fall 1993 with this radio superhit!) 7. Now That I Know (Get ready to dance!) 8. Never Forget You 9. Thinking Of You 10. Without You

Ever single song, you can just listen over and over and over again. Some of them actually grew on me. This is simply an absolute must-have for any fan of pop music.

This album is Mariah's bestseller, for good reason. It contains two of her biggest hits, the pop perfection of "Dreamlover" and the inspiring lyrics of "Hero". It also includes her beautiful remake of "Without You" as well as the inspiring "Anytime You Need A Friend". Then there are the beautiful album tracks, such as the title track and "Just To Hold You Once Again". This album also contains Mariah's last (as far as I know) collaborations with Clivilles and Cole. These tracks ("Now That I Know", "I've Been Thinking About You")have a House-type feel and prove Mariah's versatility. This album is listenable from beginning to end, with no slow spots. If possible, one should try to order the version with "Everything Fades Away" as a bonus track. That track is worth it's weight in gold. This masterpiece is a must for any Mariah collection.

In 1993, everybody was listen to seattle nonsense like nirvana and later on nu metal garbage such as korn and fake waterdown alternative bands were also coming up, thank god there's an R&B Singer name Mariah Carey that helped save music from the horrible 3 years of suicidial horror on the airwaves, every single song on this album is great, Hero is the best song I've seen in years, Mariah will always be my greatest of all time

and music box proves it.

This is definitely one of my favourite Mariah albums and it was the biggest selling (over 20 million sales worldwide).
Back in 93 when this was released, Mariah was the most loved diva in the USA and she made decent ballads and dance tracks (unlike today). One warning though; if you don't like very slow tracks then stay away!
Here's my track reviews:

Dreamlover-9/10-Excellent and uplifting dance track.
Hero- 10/10- Incredible ballad with 5 star singing and thoughful lyrics.
Anytime You Need A Frind- 9/10- Gospel influenced track which is supported by an excellent melody and a brilliant sounding choir.
Music Box- 9/10- Very slow but a beautiful, spine tingling ballad.
Now That I Know- 8/10- Not a highlight but a good enough dance track.
Never Forget you- 9/10- Babyface production works very well in this upbeat ballad.
Without You- 10/10- A cover version that's actually better than the original! Very dramatic vocals but isn't that what divas do best??
Just To Hold You Once Again-9/10- Yet another haunting ballad that you'll remember over the dull efforts of "Glitter".
I've Been Thinking About You- 6/10- The least interesting track album and is reasonably boring.
All I've Ever Wanted- 8/10- Not best but still a credible ballad.
Everything Fades Away- 11/10- I don't know if this is on the US version but its absolutely amazing! Not too slow or fast, just a mid tempo ballad but it sounds so good! If you don't get it on the album download it or something!