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 Solid Effort Sep 07, 2009
After reviewing Whitney Houston's much anticipated new release I Look to You, I thought it would be interesting to "back pedal" some and review Houston's more recent titles prior to I LOOK TO YOU. 2002's Just Whitney is a solid album that got overlooked, though in the music climate that was 2002, it is somewhat easy to understand. Compared to 1998's Grammy-nominated mega-smash comeback effort My Love Is Your Love, Just Whitney understandably falls on deaf ears commercially and even where quality is concerned. There is no "It's Not Right, But It's OK" here. That single went to #4. If you were to ask around about any popular songs from Just Whitney, no one would know right off the bat.
Where does this album set in respect to 2009's comeback I Look To You? Houston sounds slightly more energized here, but that is understandable. Some of I LOOK TO YOU is certainly more captivating, but JUST WHITNEY is no bomb by any means. Perhaps if the same energy Whitney had on this set of sometimes forgettable songs had been applied to I LOOK TO YOU, I LOOK TO YOU would have been even stronger.
The album opens with the well produced "One Of Those Days", which is perfect adult R&B made for Houston. It is one of the more memorable tracks, honestly. "Tell Me No" also suits Houston, though it is less exciting than "One of Those Days". The production work is solid and Whitney sounds fantastic. "Things You Say" is among the most exciting and soulful of the entire album, which great urban sounding production, exceptional back-up vocals, and nothing less than an A+ performance by Houston.
"My Love", a collaboration with the infamous Bobby Brown isn't bad, but it isn't great either. Whitney obviously trumps her ex-husband here. "Love That Man" is only OK, but again Whitney sells it. "Try It Own My Own" is more in the vein of the big-power ballads in which Whitney infuses every bit of her soul with unrequited raw emotion. "Dear John Letter" is solid, but nothing revolutionary. "Unashamed" fairs better, but it is an exceptional, touching cover of the 1970s Debbie Boone classic "You Light Up My Life" that proves to be the creme of the crop on JUST WHITNEY. Closing track "Whatchulookinat" ends the album strongly, though it isn't nearly as potent as "You Light Up My Life".
Overall JUST WHITNEY isn't as strong as 2009's I LOOK TO YOU. It is too short in duration and the songwriting is a bit bland at times. Whitney's remarkable voice saves the worst tracks. Again, if only the younger, more vivacious Whitney here were blended with the older, slightly weathered Whitney on I LOOK TO YOU. 3 stars, nonetheless.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Very Disappointed Sep 01, 2009
Unfortunately, Whitney's substance abuse has had a disasterous effect on her voice.
Her voice sounds strained, hoarse,under-powered and in no way resembles her once powerfully glorious instrument. You can hear better singing at any Baptist Church on any given Sunday!
This is a tragedy of epic proportions. The tracks that I listened to almost brought me to tears. It is a cautionary tale of what addiction and self-indulgence can do to the voice...to the soul.
However, this is an old story...Billie Holliday, Anita O'Day (among others) come to mind.
It reminds me of what a miracle Chaka Khan is(She still has her voice)...maybe heroin is less destructive to the vocal mechanism than crack cocaine.
Again, this is a sad day for those of us who loved and admired the talent of Whitney Houston.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Whitney's Voice Is Gone Sep 19, 2008
I sampled this cd and couldn't believe what I heard. Whitney's voice has is just.....gone. She can barely hold a note now. It was getting bad on the "My Love Is Your Love" album but it was tollerable there. But now it's just...terrible. Not only that, there's really no good production on this album. Even if there was, I could take the sound of a cracked out Whitney. I miss the old Whitney.
 Glimpses of her greatness Aug 19, 2008
One wonders what would have happened if Janice Joplin had not let drugs take her life. Would we worship her the way we do today, or would we criticize her in the same way?
I am at a hard place in evaluating this album. While it is true that it is not at the Whitney level we all know she can achieve, if this was her debut, we would be blown away. Do we judge this recording on the recording itself, or on what we know of her talent (her personal issues aside)?
I enjoy it, but there is not much here that's outstanding. Also, the sound is very commercial, and that is an issue with that. She seems to start out shaky, but the old Whitney comes back after a couple of songs.
Oh how I wish she would make a comeback!
loved the album Jan 28, 2008
I loved the album, but it wished it had more songs on there. It was upsetting at times to hear the music that we ought to expect I still love her music and now with Bobby gone, she will be better than ever.
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