The Main Idea:
After a flurry of controversy surrounding the irony heard 'round the world (AKA "Crack is whack") in her Barbara Walters interview in late 2002, Whitney Houston released the long-awaited Just Whitney to lukewarm response. Though it's not as bad as critics said it was, this record proves that Whitney is far past her prime vocally and musically. In an attempt to give Whitney more "street cred" (stupid L.A. Reid comes into play once again), flavor-of-the-week producers like Kevin "Shekespere" Briggs and Missy Elliott contributed tracks to this mediocre effort, though, as always, the ballads are really where Whitney succeeds. Overall, though it's a decent effort, I was sorely disappointed in Just Whitney. Even if it was a several years in the making and had strong first-week sales, it certainly doesn't sound like it.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. ONE OF THOSE DAYS - This smooth, soulful mid-tempo cut was the second single and is one of the best songs on the record. It samples an Isley Brothers tune and features some well-placed, if somewhat understated, bass. Whitney sings rather calmly on the verses and adds some nice ad-libs at the end. It's a very chilled out song with great lyrics and an infectious melody. I just would have liked to hear Whitney control her voice a bit more, as some of her vocals are kind of screechy and don't suit the production - 4/5

2. TELL ME NO - Another one of the best tracks. This one is a piano-accompanied mid-tempo song that starts out slow, then gains momentum with the driving lyrics: "I'm reaching for my dreams/And you're so quick to say what I can't do/You criticize my actions/But I don't see you standing in my shoes/I'm going the wrong way/I'm doing the wrong things/Every word just gives me fuel." I love the electric guitar part, as it gives the song some edge, and Whitney delivers it very convincingly. An excellent track - 4/5

3. THINGS YOU SAY - Co-written and -produced by Missy Elliott and featuring background vocals from Tweet (her album sucked, by the way), this is probably the worst song on the album. It's fairly simple with some gentle guitar-playing, but it doesn't suit Whitney's voice at all. This song sounds out of place on this album and doesn't allow Ms. Houston's obvious vocal talent to shine through. I think Tweet should have kept this tune for herself; it's just too mediocre for Whitney - 2/5

4. MY LOVE - Whitney makes yet another poor attempt at proving her marriage with Bobby Brown is real by duetting with him on this unremarkable mid-tempo jam. The lyrics are corny and overused: "See my love is deeper than the sea/And sweeter than a pretty melody/So tell everybody that you're glad you got me/You can trust in my love/My L-O-V-E" - and the production is quite bland and contrived. Bobby's voice doesn't mesh well with Whitney's at all, so they need to just stop doing these horrible collaborations - 3/5

5. LOVE THAT MAN - This was the fourth and final single released from the record and received almost no airplay, which is strange because it's easily the most radio-friendly cut on the record. It actually sounds like a more urban-sounding Britney Spears tune, though Whitney gives a different spin on it. It's not one of my favorites, but the production is pretty good. It's just too bubblegum and cookie-cutter for someone as talented as Whitney Houston - 3/5

6. TRY IT ON MY OWN - Yet another one of those signature Whitney ballads. The piano and dramatic production are nice touches, and I love the independent lyrics, though it's unclear as to who they're directed to. Clive Davis, perhaps? Or her critics? Who knows? All I know is that Whitney gives a powerful, emotional delivery, as always. My only issue with this song is that it sounds like just about every other one of the umpteen million Whitney Houston ballads we've heard before - 4/5

7. DEAR JOHN LETTER - This obvious attempt at hip-hop tries to give Whitney a tougher, more thug-like image, but it doesn't work. The lyrics are quite catchy: "I'm writing you a dear John letter/I tried to stay but it never got better/I couldn't tell you face to face but I/I had to let you know/Sometimes I wanna hit the door/I'm writing you Dear John" - but the melody's all wrong and the stuttery production, courtesy of Shekespere, is ill-suited for Whitney's voice. It's nicely upbeat, but was given to the entirely wrong artist - 2/5

8. UNASHAMED - This is another dramatic mid-tempo ballad with very confessional lyrics, even if it wasn't written by Whitney herself. The ballads are really this record's strong points, and it's proven on this one. Whitney gives her best delivery of the entire album and proves that, even if she hasn't had a hit song in several years, at least she can still sing. It's a little too preachy, though; Babyface did an excellent job handling the production for this one - 4/5

9. YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE - This song sucked in the 70's and it still sucks now, even when sung by Whitney Houston. I hate gospel music, and, even though it can be mistaken as a secular tune, this one is no exception. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the album and is too damn sappy even for Whitney. Of all the songs to cover, I don't know why Whitney had to choose this deplorable Debbie Boone tune. It's so cheesy and predictable, and Whitney does nothing to help improve it - 2/5

10. WHATCHULOOKINAT - Whitney lashes out at critics and the very people who made her famous on this upbeat dance tune, which was all but ignored by mainstream radio. The lyrics (which are not Whitney's own, once again) are very straightforward and get the point across very well: "You try so hard to show the whole world what I do/Now I'm turning the cameras back on you/Same spotlight that once gave me fame/Trying to dirty up Whitney's name." I love the infectious production and the attitude with which Whitney delivers the song - 4/5

The Big Picture:
Truly, Whitney's transformation from soulful singing goddess to wannabe mainstream pop radio queen started on her last album, My Love Is Your Love, but she takes it a little too far here on Just Whitney. Other than the ballads, there isn't a hint of the "old Whitney" which we have all come to know and love. Lyrically, the album is a mess; every song besides those aforementioned ballads can be shrugged off as prepackaged bubblegum fluff. As far as the production is concerned... well, when Whitney Houston's doing a song with Missy Elliott, you definitely know something is very wrong. And let's face it: Whitney's voice just ain't what it used to be. Rarely on Just Whitney does she belt out those "I Will Always Love You"-template ad-libs. Her voice is actually starting to sound rather weak and tired and can no longer handle the lengthy vocal riffs that it could a decade ago.

I got love for Whitney. Always have and always will. But I was really disappointed in Just Whitney. Considering it took about two years to make, the album sounds very rushed and poorly thought-out. If Whitney and her producers, songwriters, and record label had just taken their time a bit more (and perhaps also cared a bit more), Just Whitney could have been a marvelous record. I say this because it shows promise and does have a few cuts that show a positive growth in Whitney without completely abandoning the sound that made her famous. But it's just not up to the usual Whitney standards. It's lacking in every key department: vocals, lyrics, production, and originality. In the unfailingly fickle music industry, Whitney Houston has been one of those singers who's managed to thrive for several years just on her talent alone, and that's what's always impressed me about her. But with Whitney, it seems that her days may finally be numbered.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 3.2
Best Song(s): "One Of Those Days," "Whatchulookinat," and "Tell Me No"
Worst Song(s): "Things You Say" and "You Light Up My Life"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 3 stars
Lyrics? 2 1/2 stars
Production? 3 stars
Timelessness? 1/2 star
Artistry? 1 star

Also Recommended:
Mariah Carey - Butterfly
Kelly Rowland - Simply Deep
Toni Braxton - More Than A Woman

Recommended: No

Great Music to Play While: Romancing