Mary J. Blige - Strength of a Woman (Album Review)
Friday, 12 May 2017
Written by Milly McMahon
Mary J. Blige is an icon, a vocal powerhouse who possesses a near unrivalled ability to write supremely rousing R&B anthems. Channelling self-empowerment and ambition through her music’s autobiographical lyrics, she has been shifting units and commanding big crowds for over two decades.
Determined to spread the gospel of hope and love, despite a litany of highs and lows in her personal life, Blige has now returned with her 13th studio album, the aptly titled 'Strength of A Woman’, as a follow up to the experimental ‘The London Sessions’.
This time around, there are no great surprises on what remains a solid gold LP. Mary sticks to the formula that has earned her a rightful place among soul royalty, with these songs’ intense impact rooted inextricably in her ability to communicate with a heightened level of emotional intelligence. Her passions and pains are tangible throughout and the lyrics tell of real life, minus the Photoshop soft filter.
Recounting candid memories of substance abuse and the breakdown of her marriage with humility, Mary is laid bare. Reflecting warmly on past happiness, this new material strips back her sound, which feels more reminiscent of ‘90s hip hop, complete with audible finger clicks, hand claps and keyboard instrumentation.
‘Strength of a Woman’ appoints the empress of hip hop, Missy Elliot, to feature on standout track Glow Up alongside DJ Khaled and, on a slow-moving ode to self-affirmation, Mary purrs understatedly, focusing on the husky richness of her voice.
Indestructible, meanwhile, channels the late, great Whitney Houston, lamenting tear-stained infidelities. Again, the production behind this track is minimalist, illuminating the intimate content. Mary’s message track to track is progressive, strong and inspirational.
Love Yourself, featuring Kanye West, is an earthy salute to soul food, the emotional nutrition we need to allow ourselves to accept in order find peace. Here, Mary is a proud woman who believes in the promise of a new beginning through forgiveness and faith.
‘Strength of a Woman’ plays out like a love letter written to the self, granting permission for failures to be forgotten and valuing the hard lessons life dishes out. This is a vintage album, relatable to every generation.
Mary J Blige Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows;
Sat July 15 2017 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Sun July 16 2017 - LONDON Royal Botanic Gardens
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