In makeup, purpose, and/or supporting personnel -- though certainly not in lyrical content -- each
Mary J. Blige
album since
My Life
has been considerably different from the one that preceded it. That holds true with
Good Morning Gorgeous
, on which the singer's enlisted cast is almost entirely dissimilar from that of 2017's
Strength of a Woman
. A quick glance at the credits reveals that
DJ Khaled
is the only holdover from the previous album, and he's involved again with only one cut, doing the
thing on "Amazing," a blaring celebratory jam out of place here.
Blige
does bring back some ever-compatible writers and producers with whom she worked earlier, such as
Brittany Coney
,
Denisia Andrews
Lucky Daye
D'Mile
, and
Cool & Dre
. Out of those who are contributing to their first
MJB
album,
Bongo ByTheWay
Anderson .Paak
Alissia Benveniste
London on Da Track
stand out most.
Bongo
sets the tone with three of the craftiest, most intricate productions, enabling
to stunt, vent, and ruminate in top form.
Paak
, on his best deferential behavior, contributes to two of those, plus a later cut brilliantly laced by ace bassist
Benveniste
.
London
follows that by serving up a ballad that coasts -- another highlight with a knockout bassline -- where
is so frustrated with a lover that she thinks about setting fire to his house. All the self-doubt, romantic aggravation, and self-healing might seem overdone in a catalog chock-full of it across three decades. Few have covered the subjects with such detail and conviction as
, and the bottom line is that this 14th proper album of hers combines nuanced performances and succinct writing like none other. ~ Andy Kellman