Review: Jennifer Lopez – A.K.A.

Jenny from the block, better known around the globe as international pop icon J-Lo, is one of those triple-plus threats that have managed careers in entertainment made platinum through a solid fan base across the board. She started off as a dancer, and became a blockbuster actress, yet a great deal of her professional time is spent in the music studio. With a net worth of $250 million, a tidbit she sings about on her latest album, she doesn’t really have to sing, it seems to be something she does for the love of it, sort of like a personal gratification. This week Jennifer Lopez released her 8th album, entitled A.K.A., among a slew of platinum and gold records between her debut album On The 6 in 1999 and Love? in 2011. With singing being her main passion but probably not her best skill, it is the true work of her production team to create hits that accommodate her vocal abilities and engage fans to buy the album. It’s a fine line for the triple threat whose first skill is dancing then acting, and it remains to be seen if A.K.A. is the album where J-Lo’s team delivers what fans want to hear.

Giving myself a few days to listen to A.K.A. to see what would actually grow on me, I’ve decided that there are a few songs that are alright in the grand scheme of music making. There is, however, a lot not to love about this album, from the lyricism to the range of J-Lo’s vocal ability. You’re likely to skip some songs, while other songs will settle into a nice groove as background music when your mind is otherwise occupied. Though most songs are at least tolerable if not guaranteed radio or club hits, there’s just something missing from what the album as a whole has to offer.

The title track features rapper T.I. over a pop dance track repeating the title more than enough times. Following is a fun song entitled First Love with a sweet message of wishful thinking regarding a love affair that would have been better off experienced earlier in life. Another fairly enjoyable track with a smooth head nodding vibe is So Good. But lyrically this song poses a problem that other tracks like I Luh Ya Papi featuring French Montana and Worry No More featuring Rick Ross pose as well: these songs feel way too young for Jennifer Lopez. I don’t think people are inclined to hear someone born in the ‘60s (even if it was 1969) sing songs with recurring words like ‘bitches’ and ‘big booty’. Let’s face it, if I’m going to take the time to listen to J-Lo’s music, and she is repeatedly talking about how much money she has, this is just not what I want to hear. And perhaps I represent a demographic larger than myself, though I fully understand that there must be folks out there who appreciate what these songs offer. One exception would be the song Tens featuring Jack Mizrahi, which is just hilarious with shout outs to glam queens and real queens in pumps eating that runway.

On the other end of the spectrum is Let It Be Me, a ballad that goes great lengths to showcase J-Lo’s vocal ability. Surprisingly, in the love song that just misses the mark of conveying a genuine conviction, Lopez sings with a strong authority that belies what she is known for. Midway through the song, J-Lo’s years of vocal training and time spent properly warming up and running scales is made evident (or at least I’d like to believe). For me, the saving grace is a song entitled Troubeaux featuring Nas, sampling Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s ‘They Reminisce Over You’. Definitely the feel good song of the album just on the strength of the recognizable sax sample from the 1992 hit, there’s no denying the credibility that this track brings with rapper Nas laying a verse. But with few highlights and too many misses, A.K.A. would have been better off as a short-style EP.

 
Written by Mai Perkins

Originally from Los Angeles, Mai Perkins is currently living a decade long bona fide love affair with NYC and the music that keeps its spirit moving. Many of her adventures around the globe are documented on her blog: Mai On The Move! www.MaiOnTheMove.com

 
Author’s rating for A.K.A.

Pop Magazine’s official rating for A.K.A.

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure