Damita Jo -- not that bad!

[Dean Winchester]

I have to admit, I actually like Janet's album quite a bit, it took a few listenings, but I do like about 10 songs on it. Not a classic like Rhythm Nation, Control or Velvet Rope, but a nice change of pace and certainly better than the dreadful All For You

Fave songs include:
All Nite (Don't Stop)
Damita Jo
Sexhibition
R&B Junkie
Spending Time With You
I Want You
Just A Little While
Strawberry Bounce

[vashti1999]

I was gonna post on this when I picked it up Tuesday. There were a couple of okay songs for me, but this one is definitely closer to All For You than to her best albums. It's like she's gotten lazy, she used to put something into her albums and the concepts, namely the ones you mentioned: Rhythm Nation, Control and Velvet Rope. This sounds like just a bunch a songs slapped together. "Strawberry Bounce" was just irritating as hell, that's a song you don't care to hear more than once. Both "Spending Time With You" and "Island Life" gave me the feeling she was trying to do an Aaliyah "Rock The Boat" type of song. Aside from the singles, the only tracks that did anything for me were "Damita Jo" and "R&B Junkie", and that one was mainly because it samples a funky groove from an old Evelyn Champagne King song. I'll listen to the cd a few more times though, and give it a chance to grow on me. But on my first listen, I was disappointed.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by vashti1999
I was gonna post on this when I picked it up Tuesday. There were a couple of okay songs for me, but this one is definitely closer to All For You than to her best albums. It's like she's gotten lazy, she used to put something into her albums and the concepts, namely the ones you mentioned: Rhythm Nation, Control and Velvet Rope. This sounds like just a bunch a songs slapped together. "Strawberry Bounce" was just irritating as hell, that's a song you don't care to hear more than once. Both "Spending Time With You" and "Island Life" gave me the feeling she was trying to do an Aaliyah "Rock The Boat" type of song. Aside from the singles, the only tracks that did anything for me were "Damita Jo" and "R&B Junkie", and that one was mainly because it samples a funky groove from an old Evelyn Champagne King song. I'll listen to the cd a few more times though, and give it a chance to grow on me. But on my first listen, I was disappointed.

well, I definately do not rank it with Control, RN1814 or Velvet (IMO, that is the trilogy of great Janet albums), but it has grown on me a bit.

First time I listened to it, I couldn't make it past Moist, but I've listened to the thing in it's entirity about 5 times since then, and I think it's a decent Janet album. Will not be regarded as one of her best, but certainly a more consistant album than AFY was

[SBTB Geek]

I don't know why (yet) but I was extremely disappointed by this album, it's all filler from beginning to end. At least I had a little surprise this week, Usher's Confessions is actually good.

IMO, janet. is her best work to date, Rhythm Nation 1814 is a close second.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
I don't know why (yet) but I was extremely disappointed by this album, it's all filler from beginning to end. At least I had a little surprise this week, Usher's Confessions is actually good.

IMO, janet. is her best work to date, Rhythm Nation 1814 is a close second.

you're right about Usher. Out of curiousity, I sampled the album at FYE, and actually thought most of what I heard was pretty good. And I'm not an Usher fan

[isiahthomas]

Control & Rhythm Nation are her best cd's period. I haven't listened to her since then. I read a album review about her album & they basically say it sucks cause she uses sex to sell her cd. The critic said she has too many songs on the cd about sex & she's gotten older so she isn't the same Janet anymore that everybody used to be crazy about. I don't see how anybody could like her I Want U song. That song is wack to me. I didn't know Damita Jo was her middle name. That's a ugly name LOL. Look at the cd cover of her cd. She doesn't have a shirt on & she's covering up her breasts. She's definitely using sex to sell her cd. Back in the day, her album covers were nice & she had some clothes on. The critic also stated that she moans too much on her new cd LOL. That's not surprising. She always moans on her love songs. I don't know what's that about. I think she's a undercover freak. She also got bad taste in men. My mother was watching her I Want U video earlier this week for the first time & when she saw Jermaine Dupri in the video, she asked my father is that her man & my father said yes. My mother said again, that's her man? Oh no hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

[Dean Winchester]

out of curiosity, on Janet's AOL board, I was called out by a "Janazi" who told me I have no right to say I like Janet now because I made comments that I hated her last album and tour, and also I went through a period last year where I didn't listen to Janet for about 6 months (until I dug out a copy of Control and started loving her again).

so what I want to know is, because I thought her last album and tour were horrific and I can't stand the way some of her diehard fans act... does that mean I have no right to consider myself a Janet fan? and does that negate the fact that I have been a fan of the woman since 1986 and that Control and Rhythm Nation are both vital parts of my childhood? When I think of being a little boy in the 80's, Janet comes to mind just as soon as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Michael, Whitney and Culture Club. I am at an age and point in my life where I know exactly what I like and dislike, and because I really couldn't stand certain aspects of Janet a year ago (mostly that I thought her tour and album sucked and hate the Nazi attitude some diehards have) doesn't mean I should feel the same now

I can't believe how immature some AOL message board posters are

[Janice Johnson]

HEALTH NOTE-A SURE SHOT WAY TO INDUCE VOMITING, April 5, 2004
Reviewer: great guy (see more about me) from india
THIS IS A TERRIBLE COMEBACK EFFORT FROM THIS VASTLY OVER RATED BABE.THIS HAS SOME OF THE WORST AND LOUSY FILLER MATERIAL SONGS IN IT.THEY SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A VOMIT BAG FREE WITH THIS DISC AS IT IS TERRIBLE.I WOULD REQUEST YOU TO DONATE YOUR MONEY TO STARVING CHILDREN IN AFRICA INSTEAD OF THIS BABE WHO SCHOKED EVERYONE WITH THE SUPERBOWL INCIDENT.GET THE VERY BEST OF SHERYL CROW INSTEAD.


Slick, irrelevant pop lacking purpose or substance, April 5, 2004
Reviewer: Forest Law (see more about me) from Lakewood, NJ
Janet Jackson's latest album Damita Jo features this artist rehashing the same material that worked for her in the past, attempting to stay current by collaborating with the likes of Kanye West, but on the whole it's a flat, uninspired affair - no wonder she needed to put on a publicity stunt at the Super Bowl, because the music itself can't stand on its own merits.

The sound of much of the album still feels dated thanks to new-jack-swing pioneers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, regardless of what flourishes are added. Unfortunately the album takes few of the stylistic detours that might have been found on albums released during Jackson's glory days (late '80s - early '90s) and her voice is still incredibly thin - she's far more of an entertainer than a singer or songwriter, which leads to her recordings leaving much to be desired. Her weaknesses as a vocalist are exploited particularly on this album, which leans toward slow, moody R&B arrangements which don't really mesh well with her voice.

We still haven't covered the lyrics yet, which are of such a randy and promiscuous nature that most of them cannot be printed here. It all comes back to the driving force behind the creation and marketing of this album - shock value. Jackson attempts to titillate and stun audiences with lyrical content and publicity stunts, hoping that they won't notice how mundane and irrelevant Damita Jo is - unfortunately, it doesn't always work, and from a creative and artistic point of view, this album isn't very gratifying. "Just A Little While" is something of a reprieve from the rest of the material, but it comes off as an afterthought - they needed to toss on a more lively track since the rest of the album is buried in coma-inducing arrangements and cliche-plagued lyrics.

In summary: This is a weak effort from an entertainer who, despite all the praise she has received over the years, has done little to justify everything that has come to her. Damita Jo definitely sounds like the work of a confident person, but that's because Jackson put such little effort into it - she could have recorded an album of her sitting in a rocking chair talking about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and it still would have sold millions. You can pass on this album.

[Dean Winchester]

why are critics blasting this because Janet came out with an r&b album with little to less (save Kanye West's rap on one song, and the Jay-Z sample on another) hip hop influence? That's the way I like r&b music, kudos to Janet for being one major female r&b artist who didn't cram her album full of "special" guests. I might've liked Beyonce's cd better if Dangerously In Love sounded more like Damita Jo.

Originally posted by Janice Johnson
HEALTH NOTE-A SURE SHOT WAY TO INDUCE VOMITING, April 5, 2004
Reviewer: great guy (see more about me) from india
THIS IS A TERRIBLE COMEBACK EFFORT FROM THIS VASTLY OVER RATED BABE.THIS HAS SOME OF THE WORST AND LOUSY FILLER MATERIAL SONGS IN IT.THEY SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A VOMIT BAG FREE WITH THIS DISC AS IT IS TERRIBLE.I WOULD REQUEST YOU TO DONATE YOUR MONEY TO STARVING CHILDREN IN AFRICA INSTEAD OF THIS BABE WHO SCHOKED EVERYONE WITH THE SUPERBOWL INCIDENT.GET THE VERY BEST OF SHERYL CROW INSTEAD.


Slick, irrelevant pop lacking purpose or substance, April 5, 2004
Reviewer: Forest Law (see more about me) from Lakewood, NJ
Janet Jackson's latest album Damita Jo features this artist rehashing the same material that worked for her in the past, attempting to stay current by collaborating with the likes of Kanye West, but on the whole it's a flat, uninspired affair - no wonder she needed to put on a publicity stunt at the Super Bowl, because the music itself can't stand on its own merits.

The sound of much of the album still feels dated thanks to new-jack-swing pioneers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, regardless of what flourishes are added. Unfortunately the album takes few of the stylistic detours that might have been found on albums released during Jackson's glory days (late '80s - early '90s) and her voice is still incredibly thin - she's far more of an entertainer than a singer or songwriter, which leads to her recordings leaving much to be desired. Her weaknesses as a vocalist are exploited particularly on this album, which leans toward slow, moody R&B arrangements which don't really mesh well with her voice.

We still haven't covered the lyrics yet, which are of such a randy and promiscuous nature that most of them cannot be printed here. It all comes back to the driving force behind the creation and marketing of this album - shock value. Jackson attempts to titillate and stun audiences with lyrical content and publicity stunts, hoping that they won't notice how mundane and irrelevant Damita Jo is - unfortunately, it doesn't always work, and from a creative and artistic point of view, this album isn't very gratifying. "Just A Little While" is something of a reprieve from the rest of the material, but it comes off as an afterthought - they needed to toss on a more lively track since the rest of the album is buried in coma-inducing arrangements and cliche-plagued lyrics.

In summary: This is a weak effort from an entertainer who, despite all the praise she has received over the years, has done little to justify everything that has come to her. Damita Jo definitely sounds like the work of a confident person, but that's because Jackson put such little effort into it - she could have recorded an album of her sitting in a rocking chair talking about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and it still would have sold millions. You can pass on this album.

[ONJMagic]

I've listened to Damita Jo several times over the last couple weeks. No matter how hard I try, I still can't get myself to like more than 6 songs. She really needs to put an end to the interludes. They're becoming extremely annoying. Too many slow sex songs and Warmth/Moist are nothing but Would You Mind parts 2 and 3.

The only songs I can say I love are Damita Jo, Sexhibition, All Night (Don't Stop), R&B Junkie, Island Life and SloLove. Those songs alone do make this album better than anything from All For You except for Trust A Try. But unfortunately, this will be the first album since Control, that I will not purchase. Which is sad.

[vashti1999]

I was in a bad mood the day I bought Damita Jo, so maybe that had an affect on my first listen. I listened to it all the way through for only the second time today, and it actually isn't as bad as I originally thought. I would've liked another Velvet Rope and didn't get it, but this one is good for what it is. Even Strawberry Bounce didn't sound as horrible as I first thought.

[musicradio77]

I haven't listen to "Damita Jo" yet, I'll buy the CD and listen to it.

[Janice Johnson]

In summary: This is a weak effort from an entertainer who, despite all the praise she has received over the years, has done little to justify everything that has come to her. Damita Jo definitely sounds like the work of a confident person, but that's because Jackson put such little effort into it - she could have recorded an album of her sitting in a rocking chair talking about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and it still would have sold millions. You can pass on this album.


I did not write this summary you see here. It is from Amazon.com

[jamesanthony]

There was a write up in my local paper yesterday about Damita Jo... not Janet Jackson, but the singer Damita Jo DuBlanc that she was named for. OMG: She was breathtaking!!!!! Makes Janet look ugly in comparison. I'm going on a search for her records because if she sang as good as she looks.......