Rebirth
Love her or loathe her, uber-diva Jennifer Lopez knows how to deliver on record. She understands how to make the most of her limited vocal range, choosing to surround herself with able producers Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, Big Boi and Cory Rooney, who oversaw Lopez's first album,On the 6. The mix makes Rebirth far more enjoyable than it should be, coasting on midnight-groove ballads and polished dance tracks. Lopez's fourth studio album offers little insight into her much-gossiped-about persona, but it's an undeniably fun ride anyway. A blaring James Brown horn riff drills first single "Get Right" into your head almost immediately, and soon enough, you'll find yourself bopping to the beat. The Middle-Eastern flavor of "Step Into My World" is undeniably seductive, and it's actually enhanced by Lopez's wisp of a voice. "Whatever You Wanna Do" and "Cherry Pie" are solid dance tracks, the kind of grooves Janet Jackson made before she became a Superbowl afterthought. Elsewhere, the album is peppered with R&B; ballads, much like Lopez's 2002 opus,This Is Me ... Then. Rebirth is hardly a groundbreaking affair, but it continues to showcase Lopez's skillful trend of producing solid, catchy, R&B-laced; records. Nothing here ever sounds forced or canned, and in the world of MTV and radio edits, maybe that does make Lopez a bit of a revolutionary after all.--Joey GuerraMore from J.LoOn the 6J.LoThis Is Me...ThenSelenaJennifer Lopez - The Reel MeShall We Dance?