KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * *
"There's something to be said for not saying anything," says Janet Jackson on the profound opening track of her tamest album yet. Perhaps that explains the ambiguous title, designed to represent how she feels after 20 years in the biz: free of spirit, occasionally free of clothes and supposedly relevant enough to appeal to 20-year-olds.
It's also a statement that sums up the mindlessness of the songwriting, as each of the tracks float along on a shallow palette of 90s synths, forgettable lyrics and gutless cooing.
Boyfriend Jermaine Dupri is to thank/blame for 80s dance fluff like So Excited (which samples Herbie Hancock's Rockit), and Show Me which obviously aim to bring Janet's sexy back. But there's too much technical trickery going on and not enough decent hooks.
Ironically, years after emerging from her brother's shadow, Get it Out Me and With U will only fuel speculation that Janet and Michael are the same person.
Things don't pick up until Enjoy with its easy-listening Janet groove. But even that could have been written in 1990. "I refuse to be stuck in the past," she sings before hitting even more dated territory on Take Care. After 20 years, it might be time for Janet to throw in the towel.
Label: Virgin
Verdict: Floaty escapade back in time will hopefully be the last.
