Rolling Stone Review: Mariah Carey - “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel”
Tue, Sep 29, 2009
Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)
Mariah Carey, comedian? Jokes have never been Carey’s forte, but on her 12th album, she gets in touch with her funny bone, adding a cheeky marching-band coda to the thumping club jam “Up Out My Face,” threatening to out a cheating lover on national television in “Betcha Gon’ Know” (”Oprah Winfrey whole segment, for real”); even poking fun at her own vocal signature, those stemware-shattering falsetto trills (”Love me down till I hit the top of my soprano,” she coos in “More Than Just Friends”). The levity reflects the company Mariah is keeping: Every track on Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel was overseen by Carey and the ace duo of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, who have been known to spice their dense, inventive R&B concoctions with yuks.
The result is Carey’s most sonically and tonally coherent release, a mix of love ballads (”Inseparable”) and sassy breakup anthems (”Standing O”) that might have been her best album had it been several songs shorter. Memoirs sags in its second half, on songs such as the tepid “Impossible” and “Languishing (The Interlude).” By the time Carey’s plodding cover of “I Want to Know What Love Is” rolls around, the joke’s on her listeners.
Amazon MP3 has the album on special offer today for just $5.99. Click here to purchase!
Alternatively you can pre-order Mariah’s Elle Edition of “Memoirs” from: Amazon USA | BestBuy | Tower Records | Target | Wal-Mart | iTunes USA
Source: Rolling Stone Magazine
September 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I knew Rolling Stone was gonna slam her just like they always do. Jann Wenner is an a-hole.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am
3.5 out of 5 is okay. That’s more than they generally give her.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Yeah but 3.5/5 is 70% and this album is better than a C- so RS can kiss my bum. Haha.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:44 am
This is actually the best review that Rolling Stone has ever given MC.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Douchebags.
This album is great.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Fair enough
But this is still a good review I think 
September 29th, 2009 at 11:47 am
3.5/5 is ok. That magazine is not a fan of Mariah’s work. Anyway they should try to be more assertive, claiming that this album “might have been her best had it been several songs shorter” it’s just ridiculous.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:56 am
you guys, you should be happy, this is rolling stones best grade on a mariah album.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
It seems Miley Cyrus is trying to possibly undermine Mariah’s sales by tweeting hardcore how much she loves Paramore’s new album to perhaps get her fans to go out and support them. Hmm. Is this a strategic move on Miley’s teams part to keep Mariah out of contention for #1? Miley has been blocking Mariah every step of the way thus far so maybe she is up to more tricks.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Well I am surprised Rolling Stones gave her a 3.5/5! They usually slam Mariah’s efforts. This is not that bad after all and it only goes to say that MOAIA must be really impressive!