25 Magazine’s Letese Clark gives Mariah Carey’s 12th album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, a first listen.
Words by Letese Clark
Mariah Carey is back with her 12th studio album, Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel. Produced by Mariah Carey, The Dream, and Tricky Stewart, the album delves right into the love entangled pages of a diary, with entries on mostly heartache and good for nothing men. Carey reminisces on “falling asleep on the phone and skipping school” in a classic high school love tale on the track “Candy Bling.” On the track “H.A.T.E.U.,” Mariah can’t wait to hate the one man she’s always loved. The supersongstress concludes the album with “I Want to Know What Love Is,” an ode to knowing the highs of real love. Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel is a heart tripped out on the ups and downs of love from beginning to end, and will definitely have the listener’s heart reminiscing on memoirs of their own.
1. “Betcha Gon’ Know”: It’s sweet, sweet revenge, for Carey in her opening track. Her man needs to watch out because she’s out to make him pay for the wrongs he’s done to her.
2. “Obsessed”: The first single off the album, complimented with a music video poking fun rapper Eminem, is an aggressive Carey with straightforward lyrics assisted with an up-tempo beat.
3. “H.A.T.E.U. (Having a Typically Emotional Upset)”: The relationship is over but letting go is so hard. This track is a soulful sequel to “Shake it Off” from The Emancipation of Mimi.
4. “Candy Bling”: Carey takes a trip down memory lane as she reminisces on a teenage love affair.
5. “Ribbon”: “You got me wrapped up, packed up Ribbon with a bow on it.” Carey’s sold on someone’s love, is not going anywhere, and she is proud of it.
6. “Inseparable”: Another track about love gone wrong and hearts tossed to the side.
7. “Standing O”: Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” comes to mind as Carey sings to her cheating ex, “So cheers, toast, bravo to you. Cus you’re the man of the hour.”
8. “It’s a Wrap”: Mariah takes it back to her R&B roots on this one. She sings to her man, “once you’re gone, you’re not coming back” as she shuts the door behind him.
9. “Up Out of My Face”: Carey pulls out her sass as she pushes this man out of her life. There is no repair for her heart as it has become hardened.
10. “Up Out of My Face (The Reprise)”: A live band version of the original.
11. “More Than Just Friends”: Mariah is going out on a limb and letting her friend know she wants more than just their platonic relationship.
12. “The Impossible”: The beat is mellow. She has restored love as her knight in shining armor comes and revives her broken heart.
13. “The Impossible (The Reprise)”: Mariah Carey samples Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady” into a slower smoother version of the original song.
14. “Angel (The Prelude)”: Carey’s voice floats over the beat of this prelude.
15. “Angels Cry”: The love is shaky again. It’s a worthy track but its sounds the same as the others; when she finds love again, it slips away.
16. “Laughing (The Interlude)”: The title implies laughing but the lyrics say crying.
17. “I Want to Know What Love It”: It’s the perfect ballad to close out the tear soaked album. Mariah Carey starts the album with a broken heart and ends it with the search for love.
