20 Y.O.
Janet Jackson opens her much-hyped, post-wardrobe-malfunction return to the studio with the following proclamation: "I've covered a lot in my 20 years, and I've uncovered a lot in my 20 years." There's a pause, then a giggle. And then comes an honest breakdown of this disc's DNA: "I want to have fun," chimes Janet (or J., or Miss Jackson if you're nasty and can remember that far back). Fun, then, is what we get. With a light heart, a light vocal touch, and no shortage of quips and unstaged-sounding between-song cut-ups, Janet and her Jermaine Dupri-helmed posse pull together a Sunday afternoon picnic of a disc: "Enjoy," among20 Y.O.'sstandouts, hauls in a kids' choir to reinforce the keep-it-simple, spirits-skyward vibe; "So Excited" reaches back to Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" for a subtle retro reference point; "Show Me" and "Do It 2 Me" buzz along to infectious midtempo sound melanges; and "This Body" is a heavy breather reminiscent ofDamita Jo'slikable smut. Nelly puts in a house call for "Call on Me," another easy-beezy standout and20 Y.O.'snod to name-dropping, but overall it's easiest to praise this fresh and frolicsome disc for what it does without--in a break from current pop customs, nothing's twitchy or trying too hard.-- Tammy La GorceMore from JanetThe Velvet RopejanetAll for You