| Mary J. Blige follows "The Breakthrough" with "Growing Pains" which to me was an even stronger effort that claims the title of being one of her best, if not the best, albums of her career. She found her footing with "The Breakthrough" and any fears that she'd return with a cd that wasn't as strong should be put aside. "Growing Pains" has something for all of her fans and new ones, a sound that mirrors old R&B but also goes into territory that music seems afraid to venture into. After listening to the entire album, I found myself saying this was true quality. There isn't really a track to skip here; each song adds something to the mix and covers everything from a dance-vibe to a laid-back groove about love and loss. |
