The Main Idea:
In 1997, Janet Jackson released the highly anticipated follow-up to Janet, entitled The Velvet Rope. The album was fresh, up-to-date, and still rather personal at the same time and ranks as my favorite Janet record. Despite being very long (23 tracks, including over half a dozen interludes), The Velvet Rope is an album that you can sit down and listen to all the way through. Its overall sound is very clean and complete, though it is quite a bit overproduced. On this record, Janet creates a number of danceable party gems while still maintaining the substantiality of previous efforts. The Velvet Rope is kind of like a combination of Janet and Rhythm Nation, but with a more artful, updated sound.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. INTERLUDE - TWISTED ELEGANCE - I actually like this intro. It sets up the following song as well as the entire album quite well. There's nothing very remarkable about it - it doesn't sound much different from the next song - yet I feel it's an excellent way to start off a record. Kudos to Ms. Jackson for creating an intro that's actually worth listening to - 4/5

2. VELVET ROPE - This electronically charged upbeat smash is interesting because it's a decidedly R&B tune with rock and techno influences in the beat and production, yet it also features violinist Vanessa Mae! It's all blended together effortlessly and gives the throbbing song a lot of personality. Once again, it really sets the tone for the entire album, which is very deep and thoughtful and somewhat depressing. An innovative masterpiece, highly dissimilar from anything we've heard of Janet before - 4/5

3. YOU - Despite being a tad bit overproduced, this cut is expertly arranged and thought-out with great lyrics: "You gotta mean what you say/You gotta say what you mean/Tryin' to please everyone/Sacrifice your own needs/Check in the mirror my friend/No lies will be told then..." It's definitely bass-heavy and grooving, but has still more rock influences. I love the way it's delivered: Janet kind of raps, mutters, and howls. The background vocals are great as well, especially the parts where they spell conscience backwards - 5/5

4. GOT 'TIL IT'S GONE - This smoky mid-tempo track samples Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" and also features rapper Q-Tip, who gives it some soulful edge. His voice meshes well with Janet's, and there's some more great vocal arrangements. This song is just a little too bleh for me. I mean, it's good, but it's not great, and certainly not one of Janet's best songs. It's kind of out of place, but Janet does her thing with it and makes it sound almost perfect - 4/5

5. INTERLUDE - SPEAKER PHONE - This funny little skit starts off with a short stanza of "I Get Lonely" then switches over to Janet talking to a friend on her speaker phone. The friend asks Janet what she's doing with her hands to keep her from picking up the phone and... well, I'll let you figure it out for yourself - 4/5

6. MY NEED - This intricate mid-tempo tune has great production, but the melody isn't quite suited to it and some of the lyrics are too simple, though the bridge is cleverly composed: "I need you/Like the flowers need the rain/I need you/Like the blues needs the pain/I need you/Like the stars need the night/I need you/Like the waves need the sea." Nothing in particular to write home about; it's simply a fun, romantic song with a great groove to it - 4/5

7. INTERLUDE - FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS - I fail to see the whole purpose of this skit. It's simply Janet and a friend joking around in the studio or something and is barely audible. Hmmm... Am I the only one who's confused as to why this was included on the record? - 3/5

8. GO DEEP - This is my favorite Janet tune of all time. It's so fun and upbeat and a major departure from the darker sound of most of the album. It's unbelievably catchy and the production is certain to get you onto the dance floor. I like the crowd vocals most of all; they give the cut some character. It's the classic Janet party anthem, yet it features state-of-the-art production and instrumentals. Very well planned and simply wonderful - 5/5

9. FREE XONE - This is my least favorite song on the album; it's kind of like a more jacked up version of "Throb." It's obviously meant for the clubs, but it has too much going on and the lyrics, which are few and far between, are hard to decipher and overall quite childish. Still, I give Janet credit because it's very innovative and totally different from anything we've heard before. Even though I do like it, I have to commend Janet for trying something new - 3/5

10. INTERLUDE - MEMORY - This little thing is only four seconds long, but it definitely gets its point across: "You don't have to hold on to the pain to hold on to the memory." A great setup for the following single - 5/5

11. TOGETHER AGAIN - Who does know this infectious yet somber smash by now? It was one of the biggest hits of Janet's career, and it's easy to see why. Its catchy yet uplifting lyrics: "When I feel that I don't belong/Draw my strength/From the words when you said/Hey it's about you baby/Look deeper inside you baby" - and exotic, danceable production give it a unique, easily distinguishable sound. Another one of my favorites and a very touching tribute to the friends Janet's lost to AIDS - 5/5

12. INTERLUDE - ONLINE - Yet another pointless interlude; this one is just some typing over some annoyingly futuristic production. Definitely a waste of time - 2/5

13. EMPTY - This is an excellent song with wonderful production that sounds very spacey and futuristic. The lyrics are catchy and the melody is infectious, even if they don't suit the production that great. I love the vocal arrangements, although sometimes Janet sounds rather incoherent. Overall, it's a very romantic, poetic song, mostly mid-tempo, and with a very positive vibe. It's also very unique and sounds different from everything else out there, much like this entire album - 5/5

14. INTERLUDE - FULL - Once again, I'm not a big fan of interludes, but this one sets up the next tune excellently. By stating, "How empty of me to be so full of you," in a rather condescending tone, Janet really introduces this next cut quite well - 4/5

15. WHAT ABOUT - What a great song and what a great way to address domestic violence. With its edgy, angry vocals, heavy guitars, and superbly composed lyrics - "What about the times you lied to me/What about the times you said no one would want me/What about all the sh*t you've done to me/What about that, what about that" - this is easily one of the best tracks on the record. It's quite convincing and straight to the point, which is great. Yet another different sound for Ms. Jackson - 5/5

16. EVERY TIME - Janet really needs to stop attempting ballads because she just doesn't have the voice for them. This one is sweet and heartfelt, but this thin-voiced singer doesn't have the vocal chops to make it sound like anything special. The piano tries to make up for it, but it doesn't work, and the overall quality of the song is very mediocre. Ballads aren't for Janet, and she and Jimmy and Terry need to realize that and stop trying to tank them out of her somehow - 3/5

17. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT - I don't think a Rod Stewart tune was the best choice for a cover for Janet, especially when you don't change the lyrics and therefore make her sound like a lesbian. Anywho, this song just wasn't meant to be turned into an R&B cut or sung by someone with as little vocal prowess as Janet. I loved Rod's version, and this one all but ruined it for me. There are some good instrumentals, but the production is bland and the vocals, as I mentioned, just aren't happening - 3/5

18. I GET LONELY - Another one of my favorites, as it's very soulful. The lyrics are full of longing - "I fell asleep late last night/Cryin' like a newborn child/Holdin' myself close/Pretendin' my arms are yours/I want no one but you" - as is the way Janet delivers them. The bass and percussion on this mellow cut is great, and the background vocals are expertly arranged. Everything about this song is very classy and well put together, a nice change from the rest of the album - 5/5

19. ROPE BURN - Despite its somewhat overly sexual subject matter, this track is oddly catchy and infectious. It's tastefully done and very romantic; I guess my only issue is that I can't relate to it. Anywho, it has a similar sound as the previous song and is most reminiscent of something off the Janet album. The vocal arrangements are excellent and are mostly what draws me to the song so much. It's a very sensual song that is just a little freaky, but not to the point where it's distracting - 4/5

20. ANYTHING - This is another good babymaking song, though it's far too simple and mellow to be on this record. The lyrics are quite juvenile and repetitive and Janet's delivery sounds too high and strained. The so-so production and instrumentals aren't much to write home about either. I really don't know what else to say about this cut. It's just not anything special and it doesn't stick out at all. Very mediocre and unimpressive, one of the album's few low points - 3/5

21. INTERLUDE - SAD - As I've said with most of these interludes, this one sets up the following track nicely, but probably should have been tacked on as part of that track. Oh well; it is a good introduction nonetheless - 4/5

22. SPECIAL - This song rounds out the album the same way it opened up with, as this cut and "The Velvet Rope" have the same lyrical concepts. This song takes more of a pop ballad turn with simple, nature-like production and lots of piano and guitars. There's also a choir to provide background vocals, which is a nice touch and gives the track more meaning. My only issue with this song is that it sounds kind of out of place. It's a little underproduced for this album, but that's what makes it so good - 4/5

23. CAN'T BE STOPPED - This bonus cut is actually added onto the tail end of #22 and has very empowering lyrics: "You must remember that/We were born with blood of kings and queens/And can't be stopped/Stay stronger my sister you can't be stopped/No, you can't be stopped." It's got a harder, more rock vibe to it and is very deliberate and gets the point across quite well, mostly because of Janet's delivery. Very strong and uplifting; one of my favorites - 5/5

The Big Picture:
Though it's kind of hard to say, The Velvet Rope is probably my favorite effort yet from Ms. Jackson. It displays a level of sophistication and strength far removed from the overproduced 80's days of Control. Though it is Janet's most unique record, you can see elements of the socially conscious, industrial days of Rhythm Nation as well definite influences from the sensual world of Janet. The Velvet Rope, like seemingly all of Janet's albums, is a concept record. It explores the darker, deeper, more depressing side of her life, while it still has the requisite party jam or two. This album was a definite growth from her and her personal creation to date. You really get a peek inside Janet's world on Rope, a world that is confusing and loving and scary all at the same time.

I have a few minor issues with this album, though. I definitely would have given it five stars if the interludes had been eliminated and if a couple of the tracks had been cut down a bit, as some of them drag on for far too long with some major overproduction during that vocal-less minute or so. Other than that, The Velvet Rope, despite a critical disappointment, is an excellent, well-planned R&B album. It's personal and deep without being preachy, catchy and danceable without being mindless, and addictive and infectious without being annoying. The Velvet Rope's ability to maintain that sought-after happy medium through over twenty tracks is what makes it unique. Janet, Jimmy, and Terry didn't go overboard on anything, but didn't undermine anything either. The Velvet Rope in three words: sophisticated, modern, and classy. Not much else needs to be said.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.043
Best Song(s): "What About," "You," and "Go Deep"
Worst Song(s): "Free Xone" and all of the interludes

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

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Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out