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No More Little Janet

© Paula Chase-Hyman

Lets admit it - she hasn't been "little" Janet for quite some time. Less than a month shy of her 35th birthday, Janet Jackson hasn't been little for 30 years! The lyrics since Control have become more mature and sexually graphic with each project, but no more than what Janet is feeling at the time.

Apparently this time out she's ready to get her freak on. Newly divorced and ready to get over the hurt, Janet's "All For You" contains 20 tracks,likely conceived of her own musical therapy. So it may have been cathartic for her, but how will it serve you?

Janet serves it up hot this time around, providing a steady blend of steamy love songs, jumping dance tracks and her standard one-too many interludes.

Everyone's tongue is wagging about track 9 - "Would You Mind." Its been known to send grown men looking for a cigarette once its over. A dedication to the act of love making, its a gentle, slow groove whose bassline is not as sexy as "I Get So Lonely." But, if the music itself doesn't move you to light the candles and spend the evening cuddling, the steamy lyrical content will.

Its smooth and relaxing and really, quite classic Janet. A far cry from "Let's Wait Awhile," but the words aren't shocking. The comment at the end of the song, well that's another story.

The CD follows somewhat of a pattern - many of the steamy songs are concentrated between tracks 6 and 9. Coincidence? Probably, but I couldn't help pointing it out! Other patterns include sticking close to song styles from previous CD's and throwing in a track that samples and features an old school artist.

One of the more original tracks, and one I'm digging is "Truth." She doesn't have to say it, this is for her ex, Renee as much as Chante Moore's "Bitter" is directed squarely at her ex, Kadeem Hardison. One verse of "Truth" says "I had a career before, now didn't I; Sold out round the world before, now didn't I, I had a few hits before, now didn't I." Ouch!

The ladies are laying it out for the men in a big way, letting them know that there was life before and there will be life after a break-up. Its a mellow jam, and there isn't really anything spectacular about this track, but its enjoyable all the same.

It isn't all romping, licking and in Renee's case, dissing - Janet does give us a few dance tracks. Two which resemble, for one reason or another, one of her past tracks.