Hee hee, I knew that title would get your attention, you little perv!

The Main Idea:
Although she was quickly written off as a J. Lo wannabe, Joy Enriquez proves she is so much more on her oft-delayed self-titled debut. Joy Enriquez has everything from pop to R&B to Latin and blends it all together with great production from Rodney Jerkins and Beyonce Knowles, among others. Though she's achieved no mainstream success, Joy is extremely talented and definitely an artist you should know. She's no Mariah or Whitney or Christina, but she has a unique voice that floats easily over the production and is perfect for this kind of material. Her voice is versatile and sounds great on any type of music. Joy Enriquez is not some huge, revolutionizing movement in the world of music, but it's surely a record you should take note of.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. WHAT DO YOU WANT - Co-produced By Steve Morales and Beyonce Knowles, this upbeat, horn-laden R&B cut could have been a very successful single. The lyrical concept isn't very original, but it's presented in a nice way. Normally I don't like vocals that have been computerized and digitalized, but I think it gives the song a certain edge to it. Joy sings a little softly and is sometimes drowned out by the production, but, overall, an excellent track - 5/5

2. TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL - This smooth R&B single was Joy's only taste of mainstream success and has a severely catchy hook: "Baby I want you/But I don't know what to say/I see you everyday when you come around my way/I want you to know that I'm in love with you/So baby come on, come on/And tell me how you feel." Everything about this song is superb - the vocals are easygoing and well-arranged, the production is smooth but still danceable, and the lyrical concept is one we can all relate to. One of my favorites - 5/5

3. I CAN'T BELIEVE - This state-of-the-art pop/R&B cut is borderline overproduced, but the production is so good that that's forgivable. Like most of the album, this tune is fun, danceable, and catchy with Darkchild's signature beats. This song actually isn't very special, but I think that's what I like most about it. Lyrically, it's very simple, and the same holds true for the vocals as well. The focus of this track is really the production, as it should be - 5/5

4. SITUATION - This mid-tempo keyboard-laden track reminds me of something you'd hear from Destiny's Child or Toni Braxton. Again, the lyrical concept is hardly revolutionary - "I should've known right from the start/When you said she was just a friend/I should have ended it but instead/I just pretended not to know/That you're running back and forth/In and out of my life/But still I just can't seem to let go" - but it's the way it's presented that's great. I especially love Anthem's background vocals - 5/5

5. SHAKE UP THE PARTY - This spicy dance track is a bit much and has a lot going on, but it's still good. It's got the usual percussion and keyboards and is a little predictable, but I like it anyway. Sometimes you just need to dance and have a good time, and this is a great song to do that to. It's a little mindless lyrically and sounds like every other Latin song out there, but Joy does her thing and makes this song her own. Not one of my favorites, but still great - 4/5

6. WITHOUT YOU - Joy delivers this mid-tempo ballad with some real passion and conviction and the guitar gives it a Latin vibe as well. Though not highly remarkable or memorable, I think she made a great attempt at a ballad and pulled it off almost flawlessly. Joy's not the greatest singer in the world, yet she manages to sound as though she's singing from her heart, even though she didn't write the song. A very nice, sentimental tune that's sweet and simple - 4/5

7. I DON'T WANT YOU - Lyrically, this song also reminds me of a Destiny's Child tune: "It's a shame that you think/Without you, the world wouldn't see another day/And you think that I have to/Do everything you say/Understand, I don't need/A man trying to control things." Helmed by Fred Jerkins of the Darkchild camp, this track isn't anything special. As a matter of fact, it can get really repetitive at times. But it's catchy and radio-friendly, though highly predictable - 3/5

8. SOMEDAY - This song was produced by Babyface, which is surprising since it's so glisteny and reeks of bubblegum pop. I can stand teen pop in small doses, so I love this tune. It's cute and fun, if somewhat mindless, and I like the background vocals. It's very happy-sounding and quite different from most of this record, which is a good thing. Surprisingly, this is one of my favorites. I guess the teeny bopper I once halfway was still lives on inside me - 5/5

9. JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU - This is my favorite ballad on the album because it's so sweet and simple and the lyrics are so heartfelt: "Life was so sure/Love was so new/And I was so lost inside of me/But somehow you'd be right next to me/Just when I needed you." This song doesn't have a chorus, which makes it all the more refreshing. Joy's voice sounds clear, passionate, and sincere over the classy production and instrumentals. It's a short tune, but absolutely lovely - 5/5

10. BETWEEN YOU AND ME - This is your typical Darkchild masterpiece and reminds me of Jennifer Lopez's "If You Had My Love" as far as the production is concerned. Lyrically, it's the usual I'm-not-putting-up-with-you-anymore concept, which is also nothing special. However, it is catchy and upbeat and I really like Joy's vocals, once again. Even though I'm not totally impressed by it, the vocals are really what saved it and made it an essential track on the record - 5/5

11. UH OH - I love this song! Steve Morales is one of my favorite producers, so employing him on here afforded mucho brownie points. It's so damn catchy - "Uh oh, I'm falling in love in again/Uh oh, I swore it off and then/Somehow you came and made me believe/I broke a promise when/Oh no, uh-oh I let you in/And now I'm falling/I'm falling in love again" - and it makes me wanna dance everytime I hear it. Gosh, I just love this f*cking song to death! - 5/5

12. LOSIN' THE LOVE - This is yet another tear-jerking, keyboard-tinged ballad that's not as good as #9, but still wonderful. Joy sounds like she really misses whoever she's singing about, thus making her delivery flawless. What I love about the ballads on this album is that they're so simple, and this one is no exception. It's beautiful and touching and brings out the emotional girly-girl hiding deep inside me. What a great song and what a great delivery from Miss Enriquez - 5/5

13. WITH THIS LOVE - This closing ballad is a bit dramatic for the rest of the album, as the keyboards are laid on rather heavily and the background vocals take you back to the church. However, Joy sings with amazing control as she reaches some of her highest and longest notes, which makes this cut a keeper. Lyrically, it's kind of cheesy and predictable, but Joy manages to pull it off anyway. A good way to close out a record, even if it's not one of the best tracks - 4/5

The Big Picture:
Joy Enriquez was arguably the best dance record of 2001. It's pure, unadulterated pop sound mixed with obvious R&B and Latin influences does constitute comparisons to Jennifer Lopez, but Joy's sound is much more substantial. She can really sing and sing well. Joy knows how to use her voice to her advantage and doesn't do a whole lot of annoying vocal riffing and ad-libs. Her voice compliments her style of music perfectly and makes it sound that much better. I was definitely impressed with Joy Enriquez. Sometimes you just need to have some mindless fun and dance around and enjoy life, and this album is the perfect soundtrack for that. State-of-the-art production, great vocals, and catchy hooks make it a worthwhile dance album to pick up and set it apart from most pop efforts.

Though she achieved a tiny bit of success with TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL and a brief stint on "7th Heaven", Joy never got the mainstream acceptance she deserved, probably because she was written off as a J. Lo wannabe and people thought she was just trying to capitalize on the "Latin explosion." Neither of these is the case. Joy Enriquez is a great album by an even greater artist who deserves recognition. I mean, if the girl is good enough to sing background vocals for Mariah and Whitney, I think she deserves a listen! Joy Enriquez is the epitome of everything that pop music should sound like. If more album sounded like this, I might actually be a Britney Spears fan! I was highly impressed and surprised with this effort and hope that, someday, Joy will release more like it and finally attain the success she deserves.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.615
Best Song(s): "Tell Me How You Feel," "Uh Oh," and "Just When I Needed You"
Worst Song(s): "I Don't Want You"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 4 1/2 stars
Lyrics? 4 stars
Production? 5 stars
Timelessness? 2 1/2 stars
Artistry? 2 stars

Also Recommended:
Jennifer Lopez - J. Lo
Thalia - Thalia (English)
Janet Jackson - All For You

Recommended: Yes