If this album was a painting, it would be filled with radiant colors, gorgeous textures and encased in an exquisite, meticulously designed frame. In other words: A work of art. Much has been said about the clarity and the overall sound of Mary's voice. But I'm telling you, NO ONE can channel their pain and feelings through their voice like Ms. Blige. You have no choice but to feel what she's feeling. "...don't judge me or think I'm bitter, for the evil God's allowed me to see......I'm just Mary." Classic!

Mary reinvents herself yet again. She come at you with this old-school, 70's vibe and mixes it with the soul and flava that made her what she is. She has an impressive list of guests on this one: Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Elton John, etc. "All That I Can Say" gives you an old Stevie Wonder (Songs in the Key of Life) type feel. On "Deep Inside", she pleads with you to see the 'real Mary'. She even updates the Gap Band classic "I'm In Love". She also represents for the club-heads with her cover of "Let No Man Put Asunder", which is hittin' in the clubs worldwide. The true highlight of this set is "The Love I Never Had". Complete with a live band, Mary gives it up on this one, all the way up to when she 'breaks it down'. Once there, she flows with some freestyle scatting and riffs that would make Ella proud.

Overall, this album proves why Mary is the trend-setting, innovative, soul-stirring Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.

ONCE AGAIN MARY PROVES WHY SHE IS THE QUEEN. SHE GIVES IT TO YA RAW, UNFORTUNATELY SOME PEOPLE MISTAKE THAT RAWNESS FOR ANGER AND BITTERNESS. MARY IS ON A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL AND SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND. MARY MAKES SONGS THAT ARE ABOUT REALITY, AND THINGS THAT SHE HAS GONE THROUGH. WHICH SO HAPPENS TO BE WHAT ALOT OF YOUNG WOMEN HAVE EITHER GONE THROUGH OR ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH. HER MUSIC IS FROM THE SOUL WHICH IS WHY SHE WILL CONTINUE TO SHINE. MY PERSONAL FAVORITES ARE 'DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME' FEATURING THE QUEEN OF SOUL ARETHA FRANKLIN, 'NO HAPPY HOLIDAY', 'GIVE ME YOU' W/ERIC CLAPTON, 'DEEP INSIDE' W/ELTON JOHN AND THE 'LOVE I NEVER HAD'. IN THE SONG 'YOUR CHILD' I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY ACTED LIKE REAL WOMEN AND NOT GUEST ON JERRY SPRINGER. THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM IS 'NOT LOOKIN' FEATURING K-CI, IS IT JUST ME OR DOES EVERY TIME THIS TWO GET TOGETHER THE SONG IS OFF THE CHAIN. I STILL LOVE 'IF YOU LOVING YOU IS WRONG' FROM 'WHAT'S THE 411'.

LIKE DMX SAID TO LIVE IS TO SUFFER BUT TO SURVIVE IS TO FIND MEANING WITHIN THE SUFFERING AND MARY J BLIGE IS A SURVIVER! ONE LOVE **LILSPECIAL**

MARY was released in August 1999. It wasn't her most successful album, but it's my favorite album she's done. I was especially disapointed in 2001 when she went mainstream again with her NO MORE DRAMA album which was very disapointing in comparison to this album. There is so much emotion and passion all over this, and if anything this album proves that Mary is the rightful heir to Aretha Franklin's throne. Mary proves she has soul power on this disc. The album opens with the first single, the Lauryn Hill penned "All That I Can Say", a beautiful love song. She sounds so good on the song "Sexy". "Deep Inside" was also a single, where Mary sings about how she's just herself and how she wants to be understood. The song also features Elton John and samples his song "Bennie and The Jets". "Beautiful Ones" is a favorite of mine, it has an interesting sound, a looped guitar over some hip hop beats. She does a magnificent cover of The Gap Band's "I'm In Love" which is one my favorites on here. "Time" is a great song that samples "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder. "Memories" is a nice uptempo R&B song, and the show stopper is the duet with Aretha Franklin on "Don't Waste Your Time". Two of the greatest voices on one track? Believe it! I don't care much for "Not Lookin", I think it's the weakest track here. "Your Child" is another favorite of mine, about finding out her boyfriend has a child with another woman, and that he doesn't want anything to do with his child. "The Love I Never Had" is an excellent soul song, very sad but the lyrics are great. "Give Me You" is a nice Diane Warren ballad, also a single from the project. The album closes nicely with a cover of "Let No Man Put Asunder". This is Mary's best album, her heart is all in this and I hope one day she returns to doing this type of music, instead of the boring mainstream stuff she has done on her latest two albums (LOVE & LIFE and NO MORE DRAMA).

I bought this cd after hearing a few songs in my sister's car. Maybe it's just me, but I think that this is her best album. The music stands on it's own (Puffy's gone). It starts off with the Lauryn Hill penned "All That I Can Say." It's the best song that's not on "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill." Next up is one of the only two tracks that I skip past while playing the CD. (The other is "Memories.") "Sexy" (which features an out of place rap) just doesn't do anything for me. Other than those two songs, she makes it almost impossible to take the cd out of the player. From the ingenious use of Elton John's "Bennie & The Jets" sample, mixed in with the other ex-Al B. Sure collaborator Kevin Deane additions, Mary let's you know that she's just her on "Deep Inside." Her vocals are powerful throughout the rest of the cd... most notably on the duet with her ex, K-Ci Hailey. Not to be overlooked are the beautiful ballads "Beautiful Ones" and "I'm In Love." Two of the best R&B ballads in the last ten years. Eric Clapton makes a guest appearance on "Give Me You."

My three favorite tracks are "The Love I Never Had," "Your Child," and "No Happy Holidays." Three emotionally packed songs. The Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis penned/produced "The Love I Never Had" is their best song in at least ten years (wow, they used live drums for once!) The other two tracks are just as incredible.

If you don't own a cd yet by the premiere R&B female artist of this generation, this is the one I recommend. I just wish she'd come to Seattle, so I can experience these songs live...

I wish I could describe this whole album....but it would be several pages long.....So I will make it short and simple. If you get this album, you will experience soul music in it's highest form. This album, is proof why Mary is already a living legend at such a young age...(29 yrs old). She has created a musical masterpiece for the world to enjoy.....You have to listen to it yourself to see what I mean. So buy this album, and let the queen of hip-hop soul share her beautiful voice with you.