Janet Jackson - Unbreakable

Janet Jackson
Unbreakable
2015

Miss Jackson is nasty, if you ever doubted it you are insane. Unbreakable picks up like she never left it is completely classic Janet and Her sound and vibrancy comes straight through. It would have been easy for Janet to slip into some kind of EDM Pop songstress and let 2015 wash over her like a wave, but that is not her nor is that this album. Unbreakable is Jackson taking what has been a tumultuous decade and turning it all back around to where she started, the music that made her famous. What always came through for Janet Jackson was her vulnerability; despite her raucous stage performance the sense was always that Janet Jackson the person was sensitive, kind and fiercely female. Even on smashes like "Rhythm Nation" she was still going to let you know who exactly she was. Like all great musicians her art was a little window into her soul and Unbreakable brings that feeling back. Things have gone wonky since she released something truly great: The Super Bowl incident, Her Brother's death and a couple failed relationships but all that instead on bringing her down serves as fuel for the fire.

The lead single "BURNITUP!" features another icon Missy Elliot and the two together make for some real greatness. At almost 50 years old Janet is not trying to push sexuality the way Madonna does, her approach is much more nuanced and has a sense of grown-upness that is not trying to recapture former glory. One issue with the album is it is far to long. At 19 tracks some of which are well over four minutes the album seems to never wrap things up. "Shoulda Known Better" in particular is about a minute to long adding another verse and chorus after the song seems to stop. What you get is that Miss Jackson wanted to get all of this out right away, her excitement comes through but some editing would have really improved this record. However the length does not take away from what is really an incredible album from an incredible woman. Don't call it a come back, but you can whisper that to a friend.

8 out of 10