Let me start of by saying that I really wanted to love this album, however I just can't. Much was made of this "comeback" album, but in all reality it's all glitz with no substance. The only way I can really describe this album is distant. Whitney never seems to connect to the material, and to listen to the deterioration in her voice is just plain depressing.
It's been seven years since Whitney's last album, the equally deplorable "Just Whitney." Since that time Whitney has made more news for the battles she's fought with her personal demons than with the music she has created. Whitney's fore into drug and alcohol abuse didn't come without a price. That price is irreversible damage to her greatest instrument: the voice.
Whitney could once count on her voice to elevate even the most lackluster material she was given to another level. Now you get sub-par vocals with sub-par material and there is truly nothing remarkable about this latest effort. Whitney has stated in countless interviews that she was content living her life away from music. She talks about Clive Davis coercing her into recording again because he missed her and so did the public, however I've never heard Whitney say she wanted to come back because she loves music. Because she loves to sing or has something to say, and that shows on this album. Where is her love and passion at?
Even though the songs were written with personal struggles in mind Whitney never feels connected to them. Many critics have said the toning down of her vocals allows her the ability to express more through the lyrics. I couldn't disagree more. 90% of Whitney's ability to interpret and express a song is her vocal ability, and with dry, disenchanting vocals you get dry disenchanting songs. I don't expect long belting or "vocal acrobatics" as cliche as that is to say, on every song, however when a certain bridge or chorus needs emphasis with earth shattering vocals, I expect Whitney to bring it. She never does.
With that said there are some commendable tracks on the album. The Alicia Keys penned "Million Dollar Bill" is a disco/dance feast that finds Whitney being fun and frisky. The vocal intro at the beginning of the song is one of the few highlights on the album. I have mixed feelings about her remake of Leon Russell's "A Song for You." I was really looking forward to this song with high anticipation however the death of the song is again in her lackluster vocal performance. I was expecting chills down my spine at the start of the song and instead I was very disappointed. I like the fact that she changed it up to a dance remake, however knowing what she did with the "It's not Right but It's Okay," remake and then listening to this is a bit disheartening. Not to mention that Christina Aguilera wiped the floor with this song on Herbie Hancok's "Possiblities" album. Diane Warren, who Whitney has created some of her biggest hits with provides us with "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." It's an admirable attempt, however it definitely doesn't recapture their former glory. I kept waiting for the big vocal in which Whitney would affirm and that she didn't know her own strength, but that didn't allow her to crumble. Sadly Whitney coos through the song as though she doesn't really believe what she is singing either.... The voice is hoarse and again detached. "Salute" written by R. Kelly is a funky cut in which Whitney finally finds that balance between sassy and convincing. The chorus is catchy and the concept of the song is overall enjoyable. One of the few hits rather than misses on the entire album.
This album will be considered a comeback only because the bar was set so low because of the previous product that she put out and the personal demons she's fought. We won't be talking about this album years from now, and if anything people will purchase this album just because Whitney is back on track, but she's still got a long way to go. If this album had been put out by any of the handful of pop/R&B singers that are out right now the response to this album would be lukewarm at best. Because it's Whitney Houston doesn't make it okay to accept material such as this. In fact because it is Whitney Houston we should demand better material than this.
