"Janet" heralds a new Miss Jackson who's come a long way from her cutesy days as Penny on "Good Times." Gone are the robotic dance beats of her last two records. Say farewell to those all-black costumes she constantly wore in her videos. This album shows Janet at her most relaxed, and it features her most mature work at the time. Janet once crooned, "Let's Wait Awhile," but it now seems that she is willing to explore her sexuality, as evidenced in the hot singles "That's the Way Love Goes" and "You Want This." Elsewhere, she dabbles with house ("Throb"), non-drippy ballads ("Again," which is one of her best singles ever), rock ("What I'll Do"), and straightforward pop (the hidden track "Whoops Now"). For all that's good, I have to complain about the handful of unnecessary interludes that pop up in between songs. If they were removed, "janet" would have been a near-flawless record. But as it is, it's still a winning release that shows growth and depth from the most exciting and musically consistent member of the Jackson family.

Janet has made a winner here. Unlike her previous cd's, Janet drastically changed her image, for the best. The songs still have the heavy beats that we've expected from her. Each of the songs are awesome, but some of the "weaker songs" could have been left out, and been replaced by those wonderful b-sides of the album "One More Chance", "And on And On" and "70's Love Groove"

Each song is different, there is a different style for each song. "If" is the standout of the album because there is no song like it, and it happens to be my favorite too. "Where Are You Now" is an awesome ballad, like One more Chance (which is available on the If single), Where are you now should of been a single, it is one of Janet's best songs and her voice really shines on it.

Janet has done it again, I highly reccomend this cd, all the songs are awesome.

It's a shame this wasn't released on vinyl-it would have sounded awesome! This, I think, is a vinyl-album. It has the sound for it.

Anyway, this is an incredible album: 75+ minutes, 27 tracks (about half of which are inturludes), very eclectic in its musical styles, and the moods it can set.

"Âoy!!"

This record kicks-off with "That's The Way Love Goes," (trk. 2) a very mellow, smooth, rhythmic song. It sets a great opening. Then "You Want This" (trk. 4) is where the tempo picks up. In this song, Janet sings against a cliché that has existed strongly in media for ages: that the women should give herself up for sex. Janet believes the man should "work it." 'Not anyone I'll just let in my heart/you have to be hungry for me/girls may have been easy/boy, you have to please/what makes me thing that I can say this to you/I know how bad you want me/if you want my future/then you better work it, boy/love won't come easy-no/I know you want this.' A very good statement! And it's true. "If" (trk. 6) is a fast, hard-rock song with an excellent beat! "This Time" (trk. 8) features the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (YEAH, MINNESOTA!!!) and Opera-diva Kathleen Battle. When Janet has finished her part, everything just becomes silent, with only the strings humming low in the background....BOOM-the orchestra explodes beautifully and Kathleen Battle unleashes her amazing vocals, giving the song a pleasant, soothing, eerie sound. Then everything come together to a grand finale.

All is silent.

Then, "Throb" (trk. 10) opens with Janet moaning in sexual ecstasy, the bass-drum sets a beat, Janet says "Okay, here we go..." and the drums pound out a fast, damn fine, dance rhythm. Next up: "What'll I do," (trk. 11) a light Jazz song with nice instrumental accompaniment. "Funky Big Band" (trk. 13) is as the title indicates, funky. Nice vocals, and fun to listen to. "New Agenda" (trk. 15) is a loud song, with a twist of rap-another song with a good statement to make society better. Alice Walker would be proud.

Now, at this point, the album starts to cool down, and the softer songs start to play, each one becoming lighter and more melodic.

"Because Of Love" (trk. 17) is a light-pop song. It has a pretty melody, and a nice beat. "Again" (trk. 19)-everybody knows this song! I love this one a lot. It has no drums or beat, only Janet's beautiful voice and an orchestral and piano accompaniment. This is a song that'll get you in the heart, and God knows you'll love it again and again. "Where Are You Now" (trk. 21) is a beautiful song with a wonderful melody. This is a favorite of mine.

Now the cool mood turns sensual as well.....

"The Body That Loves You" (trk. 23) is very soft and very sexy. Be careful, this song might melt your CD player! Then, the hit "Any Time, Any Place" (trk. 25): a very easy, sexy song, and the improvisation after Janet's sung the song are very soothing. The improv lasts about three minutes and bleeds into a rain storm: "Are You Still Up" (trk. 26) only has two speaking parts for Janet: "Are You still up?" in the beginning, and "Sweet Dreams," in the end. In-between is a sweet instrumental melody which lasts a minute-and-a-half while the rain pours in the background, an occasional clap of thunder sounding. The track fades, and all is silent.....

About 25 - 30 seconds later, voices-Janet and her friends-fade in slowly. Then the piano starts playing notes. Then the drums establish a up-tempo rhythm, and "Whoops Now" (trk. 27-the last track on the album) starts to play. After about five minutes of a great song, it ends in talk about things to do on the vacation Janet and her friends are on. The conversation is amusing, but eventually comes to a halt, and Janet's ends this epic masterpiece by saying: "Oops!"

This is an album any Janet Jackson fan-or *anybody* in my opinion-should own! It is brilliant, and without a doubt Janet's best album of all time. I guarantee, you'll love it!

-Kenny K

I think this is probably her best cd. It is amazing and there are some fantastic songs on here. They run the gamut between fast and slow and funky too.

I love That's The Way Love Goes. It's stunning, and sexy and beautiful. Then I love the ballad Again. It's a beautiful and emotional song and you should check out the video for that one. It's great. There is the funky If. That is very hot and suggestive and it's the style that suits her best. And the last of my picks is Because of Love. It's boppy and fun. With these songs and all the ones in between, there is a style for everyone. This is such a fantastic cd and I hope her future release is along this line because it will be another hit.

In 1991 Janet signed with Virgin and started paying back her advange in 1993 with the smooth and sexy album Janet. The album lifted a total of seven singles(depending on where you live in the world, followed by numerous ambitiously music videos to accompany the music. Indeed the Janet album was a hit across the world, generating sales of that of 17 millions.

With the Janet album her image changed as well. From being the girl next door, Janet turned into a sex-kitten over-night. Who can forget the sleeve with La Janet? Having two hands cover her breasts whereas her hands are placed on her head. A statement one might say and indeed it seemed so.

The album opens with the smooth and silky That The Way Love Goes, which easily became a hit across the globe and making it one of her biggest hits to date. Its share of funky elements and a great beat hit a card with public, making the song top the US chart for a whopping 8 weeks as well as earning Janet a Grammy for Best R&B song in 1993. Perhaps not the most obviously choice as a lead single though its passionate lyrics had everyone singing along.

On The Janet album we have fast sex such as Throb with its mourning sounds and You Want This. Seductive songs That The Way Love Goes and The Body That Loves You. The delight of love Because Of Love and a tribute to African-American womanhood New Agenda. Basically you have it all and more.

Overall the Janet album is an haughty record from Janet Jackson. Sure one would agree Janet Jackson limited vocal appeal makes the record less enjoyable, but Janet Jackson doesn't rely on a big voice such as other artists. Janet and her team have realised that well-produced songs with a good beat will get you everywhere. Janet knows how to use what she got in terms of vocal and the Janet album clearly displays that a big voice doesn't matter if you don't have good melodies and great hooks to work with.

I prefer the Janet album over Rhythm Nation and The Velvet Rope anyday though I suggest a non Janet fan to start with Design Of A Decade to get a feeling of her earlier catalogue.