Growing Pains

by Mary J. Blige

Media Type: Audio CD

Release Date: December 18. 2007

Label: Geffen Records

Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1073

Average Customer Rating:

UPC: 602517520301

List price: ~~$13.98~~

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Reviews

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Inspiring Mary !, October 29, 2008

Studio album number eight from Mary J Blige is beautiful, a little bit sad, a little bit happy, immaculately played and exquisitely sung in that gorgeous voice: a warm and charming collection of songs in the styles with which Blige has become associated - blues, jazz, hip hop, soul.
Sporting a white shift with her strong features in proud profile, Mary J Blige is dressed as the high priestess of self-help for the cover of her latest CD.
Although the Queen of Hip Hop Soul has long since quit drugs, got married and found God, the motivational message she began spreading with 2005's triple-platinum-selling The Breakthrough will still be delivered in ghetto-fabulous style.
"Growing Pains" doesn't break much musical ground, but it is inspiring to hear 38-year-old Blige maturing with such energy and honesty.
The CD is also just a little bit dull.
Some of the ballads drag, but the fiery upbeat anthems designed to empower the "grown woman" will certainly inspire a few smiles and starjumps between laundry loads.
The album, which includes Mary's Top 10 single "Just Fine" features guest appearances from Ludacris and Usher, and production by The Neptunes, Johnta Austin, Ne-yo, Stargate, Bryan-Michael Cox, Dre and Vidal, Tricky, The Dream and Sean Garrett.
Her previous masterpieces that was the becoming of Mary will always come into question because Mary established herself in the Hip Hop/R&B/Soul genre as an artist who had to take the rough with the smooth.
She was an artist that fought a tough and hard winding battle, opened up to her darkest moments and fought with her demons, which made for good music.
Compelling music in fact. And music that can even be deemed 'classic'.
Now Mary has finally found a happy place, an inner pace, her comfort zone.
It's good that her self-empowered confidence is reflected in the music.
"Growing Pains" leaves the listener no uncertainty as to how she feels today.
"You know I love music," she says during the opening bars of "Just Fine". "It makes me move, it makes me wanna have fun!" It's a funky, determined track and the fact that it samples Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" gives it a hugely triumphant feel.
Plus, its upbeat message is given an inspirational twist because of the long, arduous journey that lies behind its protagonist's getting to feeling "Just Fine".
The album definitely has an updated feel complete with good ole contemporary (but mature) R&B with the oldskool sound here and there especially in superb gems like "Hurt Again" (signature Mary), "Feel Like A Woman", "Stay Down", "Work In Progress" (Growing Pains) and "If You Love Me".
Apart from those, the album pretty much hit a couple of blunt corners. Mary has nothing to prove with this album though because everything has already been proved.
Still the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul without a remarkable doubt, Mary is doing 'just fine'.
There's plenty to admire here, not least the musicianship.
But mostly there's that voice - strikingly powerful and unique, utterly flawless.
My highlights : "Work In Progress"(Growing Pains), "Grown Woman" and "Work That".
Have a very pleasant listening experience!

Work That Just Fine, October 26, 2008

Work That
Just Fine

Goosebumps and chills every time "Work That" came on the air, no matter where I was. An anthem, pep rally kind of song that immediately linked me back to the empowering feminist anthem "I am Woman (Hear me roar)". I can't recall a song as immediately so emotionally powerful as "Work That" in eons. It was as if, every time I heard the song, and looked around at the other women around me, there was a renewed sisterhood of goodwill. Somebody was talking to us, cheering us on. Wishing us well. Cheering us on. Somebody cares to share some good vibes. Not only the message, the messenger but the kindness and caring to reach out to strangers using a worldwide platform for goodwill? chills. So often, what's on the TV or the radio isn't about the audience so much as the sales. And rarely on a personal level of meaning.

For some people, there's not always, or ever been, someone around to tell you that you can make it, that you are somebody, somebody good and worthy. For some people, the negative that they hear is what they become, because that's all they principally hear. You can rise above or fall below expectations. Sometimes you can follow the lead of others, growing through the pains. "Follow me."

Back in the heydays of the 60s and 70s, there was a sisterhood of goodwill. No cat fights and such. Women were not the enemy as you progressed forward as a woman. Progress for any woman was progress for women as a group. Nowadays, competition and tearing women down are all over the air--TV, radio, news.

Women not calling each other names, the hateful "B" word. Women joining men in degrading women. It's so few and far between hearing anybody wish women well, pep you up, and cheer you on, that it's a relief and an immediate booster shot antidote from the other side of the coin every time I hear "Work That". This would be a background song when Michelle Obama hits the air as First Lady. "Follow me."

"Just Fine" got many of my days started, ended, and always was right on time.

Both songs would be just right for anyone or group working with women or girls in community development, leadership. "Work That" and "Just Fine" are cathartic, prayer like anthems that can lead the current and next generation of women to new heights of goodwill towards themselves and others.

Higher Expectations, October 24, 2008

I give it three stars only because of the hits "Just Fine" and "Work That". I also like "Fade Away". I had higher expectations for fresher material to permeate the entire disc. The three aforementioned songs were just that...but the majority of songs are very typical modern R&B. Not very catchy. Wordy and I don't really care to find out what they're about. Avid Mary fans will likely appreciate this album more than I. I appreciate her and her contributions to the industry no matter what.

Mary is still Mary and I love her no Matter What, October 5, 2008

I love "If you Love Me." I love that song. That song talks about all the things a man need to do to retain the relationship.
I knew before I bought this album that it was not going to be her best but I bought it anyway because I'm a fan forever.
Just fine is a good song too if you really listen to the words. I listen to this song when I'm going to work and working out at the gym. Other than that, those are the only 2 songs I listen too. she is still the "Queen" and nobody can wear that crown the way she does!

Growing Pains, September 23, 2008

Very good CD. A good variety of music, some fast to dance to, some slow to mellow out with and some duets.


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							December 4, 2008


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