A New Label "Disappointment"!
Discipline (2008)
1. I.D.-Interlude
So we hear some weird sounds as someone walks into a lab apparently as the doors open and close. This person sits down and begins typing on a computer. It's Janet as an A.I. begins talking with her named "Kyoko". Janet gives Kyoko instructions step by step until Kyoko selects the "Discipline" album on Janet's media player. Kyoko then counts down until the albums begins with a weird sound and static.....
So we hear some weird sounds as someone walks into a lab apparently as the doors open and close. This person sits down and begins typing on a computer. It's Janet as an A.I. begins talking with her named "Kyoko". Janet gives Kyoko instructions step by step until Kyoko selects the "Discipline" album on Janet's media player. Kyoko then counts down until the albums begins with a weird sound and static.....
2. "Feedback"
This is an awesome club banger! Yes, it's layered with auto-tune at certain parts of the song and yes, the lyrics are highly questionable ("Cause my swag is serious/Something heavy like a first day period") But man, is it catchy as hell and Darkchild produced the hell out of that beat! A metaphorical song about sexual tension, "Feedback" was Janet's best dance single since "All For You" at that time. It became her biggest hit in years as it made the top 20 on the BB Hot 100 landing at #19; her highest ranking since "Someone To Call My Lover". Sure, it wasn't the biggest hit commercially but I remember a lot of casual listeners loving this song when it came out and Janet tore it up when she performed it live on various shows at the time. It's everything "So Excited" wasn't and for a song from the era of auto-tuned pop music, it still holds up strong in this post-euro pop/techno dominated 2010s.
(A-)
This is an awesome club banger! Yes, it's layered with auto-tune at certain parts of the song and yes, the lyrics are highly questionable ("Cause my swag is serious/Something heavy like a first day period") But man, is it catchy as hell and Darkchild produced the hell out of that beat! A metaphorical song about sexual tension, "Feedback" was Janet's best dance single since "All For You" at that time. It became her biggest hit in years as it made the top 20 on the BB Hot 100 landing at #19; her highest ranking since "Someone To Call My Lover". Sure, it wasn't the biggest hit commercially but I remember a lot of casual listeners loving this song when it came out and Janet tore it up when she performed it live on various shows at the time. It's everything "So Excited" wasn't and for a song from the era of auto-tuned pop music, it still holds up strong in this post-euro pop/techno dominated 2010s.
(A-)
3. LUV
Another metaphorical song, "LUV" uses the analogy of a car crash when relating to falling in love. I remember not being a fan of this song when I first got the album but when listening to the album again recently, I really like it! It's a cool R&B/pop song with a bouncy, vibrant beat and you can't help but dance to this one. We've all have fallen hard for someone at some point in our lives and in it's silly way, the song is universal. Not the most meaningful music, but irresistibly fun none the less! [yes]
(B)
Another metaphorical song, "LUV" uses the analogy of a car crash when relating to falling in love. I remember not being a fan of this song when I first got the album but when listening to the album again recently, I really like it! It's a cool R&B/pop song with a bouncy, vibrant beat and you can't help but dance to this one. We've all have fallen hard for someone at some point in our lives and in it's silly way, the song is universal. Not the most meaningful music, but irresistibly fun none the less! [yes]
(B)
4. Spinnin'-Interlude
Janet quickly talks about how love makes you spin round and round like a rollercoaster....yeah...pretty much....
Janet quickly talks about how love makes you spin round and round like a rollercoaster....yeah...pretty much....
5. "Rollercoaster"
I gotta say, I love the beat/music of this song. The rapid drums in the background, the banging of what sounds like trash can covers, etc. The producers do a great job of actually making listeners feel like they are on a rollercoaster. It makes for a very cool sounding record and it's very fun. It's another track at first I wasn't a fan of but I've grown to like it a lot recently. Janet sounds good, especially toward the end where she goes from some semi-high notes. Just a good song all around and very enjoyable.
(B+)
I gotta say, I love the beat/music of this song. The rapid drums in the background, the banging of what sounds like trash can covers, etc. The producers do a great job of actually making listeners feel like they are on a rollercoaster. It makes for a very cool sounding record and it's very fun. It's another track at first I wasn't a fan of but I've grown to like it a lot recently. Janet sounds good, especially toward the end where she goes from some semi-high notes. Just a good song all around and very enjoyable.
(B+)
6. Bathroom Break-Interlude
Janet and her friends have a funny conversation about men in the bathroom at a club. It's cute.
Janet and her friends have a funny conversation about men in the bathroom at a club. It's cute.
7. "Rock With U"
You know, people talk a lot about how the problem with Janet's music from the 2000s was that she stopped setting trends and simply started following them. But "Rock With U" is eerily an exception! A euro-pop/techno track before the trend exploded in 2010 and beyond, this is easily one of the best songs to come out from that genre. "Rock With U" was criminally underrated at the time (as well as its masterpiece of a video with it's impeccable choreography) The allusions to trance music is also present with it's almost hypnotic thumping beat and Janet's paper thin vocals surprisingly work here; adding to the song's seductiveness. It's such a top notch dance/club song that the fact it wasn't a hit still frustrates me! If it had come out a couple of years later, it would have topped the charts, no question! I simply adore this severely overlooked gem.
(A)
You know, people talk a lot about how the problem with Janet's music from the 2000s was that she stopped setting trends and simply started following them. But "Rock With U" is eerily an exception! A euro-pop/techno track before the trend exploded in 2010 and beyond, this is easily one of the best songs to come out from that genre. "Rock With U" was criminally underrated at the time (as well as its masterpiece of a video with it's impeccable choreography) The allusions to trance music is also present with it's almost hypnotic thumping beat and Janet's paper thin vocals surprisingly work here; adding to the song's seductiveness. It's such a top notch dance/club song that the fact it wasn't a hit still frustrates me! If it had come out a couple of years later, it would have topped the charts, no question! I simply adore this severely overlooked gem.
(A)
8. "2nite"
When this album was coming out, Janet repeatedly mentioned that the album was "classic her with a modern twist". "2nite" encapsulates that concept damn near perfectly! It's like an 80s dance hit made love to a modern day club banger and created this pretty stellar track. At the time, Rihanna was coming up as a big star with dance hits like "Please Don't Stop The Music", but songs like this show Janet still knows how to burn the dance floor up with solid hits of her own. I honestly don't understand how I also didn't like this song that much when I first bought the album. Janet sounds great, the beat is superbly produced, you can't help but want to dance, etc. What was wrong with me!? Wow, this album is much better than I remembered it being so far!
(B+)
When this album was coming out, Janet repeatedly mentioned that the album was "classic her with a modern twist". "2nite" encapsulates that concept damn near perfectly! It's like an 80s dance hit made love to a modern day club banger and created this pretty stellar track. At the time, Rihanna was coming up as a big star with dance hits like "Please Don't Stop The Music", but songs like this show Janet still knows how to burn the dance floor up with solid hits of her own. I honestly don't understand how I also didn't like this song that much when I first bought the album. Janet sounds great, the beat is superbly produced, you can't help but want to dance, etc. What was wrong with me!? Wow, this album is much better than I remembered it being so far!
(B+)
9. "Can't B Good"
I just.......this song is just beautiful! Ne-Yo really gets not only Janet's music but the Jackson sound period! The beat is so effortless, the harmonies and vocals from Janet are...perfection! Obviously, Ne-Yo was heavily inspired by Michael's "I Can't Help It". This feels like a modern take on that song that nearly betters it in almost every way. I don't know what else to say! This song just puts a smile on my face everytime. The beat, the groove, the vocals, the harmonies, I'm repeating myself but seriously...YAAAAASSS!
(B+)
I just.......this song is just beautiful! Ne-Yo really gets not only Janet's music but the Jackson sound period! The beat is so effortless, the harmonies and vocals from Janet are...perfection! Obviously, Ne-Yo was heavily inspired by Michael's "I Can't Help It". This feels like a modern take on that song that nearly betters it in almost every way. I don't know what else to say! This song just puts a smile on my face everytime. The beat, the groove, the vocals, the harmonies, I'm repeating myself but seriously...YAAAAASSS!
(B+)
10. 4 Words-Interlude
So...what do Love, Fate, Hope and Destiny have to do with the album?! Tell me Janet! Ewh! I thought I was over getting mad about these useless interludes but...NOPE!
So...what do Love, Fate, Hope and Destiny have to do with the album?! Tell me Janet! Ewh! I thought I was over getting mad about these useless interludes but...NOPE!
11. "Never Letchu Go"
No...no...just...NO! I have never liked this song...and I still don't. "Never Letchu Go" feels overly sappy, terribly produced with Janet's voice and the heavy beat sounding like they are fighting each other with Janet singing this as boringly as possible. Or I don't know! Maybe her vocals improve but I never make it far enough listening to the song to know if that's true. Or maybe I have once and just forgot for the most part. I just know this song is trash. Ewww....
(F)
No...no...just...NO! I have never liked this song...and I still don't. "Never Letchu Go" feels overly sappy, terribly produced with Janet's voice and the heavy beat sounding like they are fighting each other with Janet singing this as boringly as possible. Or I don't know! Maybe her vocals improve but I never make it far enough listening to the song to know if that's true. Or maybe I have once and just forgot for the most part. I just know this song is trash. Ewww....
(F)
12. Truth Or Dare-Interlude
Janet and her friends play truth or dare, when her friend asks her what was the worst X she ever had?....leading into....
Janet and her friends play truth or dare, when her friend asks her what was the worst X she ever had?....leading into....
13. "Greatest X"
Ummmm...I don't like this either. Didn't Janet already do the whole "Ex" thing on "Damita Jo"?? This song just feels redundant and once again cluttered with sappiness compared to "Thinkin' Bout My Ex". I just don't like the arrangements and Janet's vocals feel forced at times, like she's being forced to sing a song that has no real emotion or meaning behind it. It's one of those songs where you are better off making you're own lyrics! I personally prefer, "In my heart you will always be/The Greatest Skip Ever/Ever/Ever...." Next! This album was going so well...
(D+)
Ummmm...I don't like this either. Didn't Janet already do the whole "Ex" thing on "Damita Jo"?? This song just feels redundant and once again cluttered with sappiness compared to "Thinkin' Bout My Ex". I just don't like the arrangements and Janet's vocals feel forced at times, like she's being forced to sing a song that has no real emotion or meaning behind it. It's one of those songs where you are better off making you're own lyrics! I personally prefer, "In my heart you will always be/The Greatest Skip Ever/Ever/Ever...." Next! This album was going so well...
(D+)
14. Good Morning Janet-Interlude
Janet wakes up to greet Kyoko. They talk about the "X" apparently as Janet ends with her thinking she can do so much better!
Janet wakes up to greet Kyoko. They talk about the "X" apparently as Janet ends with her thinking she can do so much better!
15. "So Much Betta"
Now, this song has always been creative as hell. The sample of Daft Punk's "Daftendirekt" is pretty awesome as it blends electronic music with a hip-hop/dance beat. The production is freakin' amazing. That being said...everything else is seriously underwhelming. The lyrics are repetitive and not in a catchy way but in a "this song could be SO much more if there were more lyrics" way. The chorus makes for a great hook but the verses kinda suck. The bridge toward the end is nice but still, too little too late. Even as a club banger, it leaves a lot to be deserved. I remember loving this track when the album dropped but now?? I always had this cool concept for the video if this became a single with Janet leading an army of aliens that look like her as they land on Earth and begin replacing the women of the world with her alien clones. It's basically Invasion of the Body Snatchers but with an epic dance sequence toward the end! [biggrin] What do you guys think? Anyway, a song that sounds technically strong but ultimately too short in length and could have been so much....wait for it...BETTA!
Now, this song has always been creative as hell. The sample of Daft Punk's "Daftendirekt" is pretty awesome as it blends electronic music with a hip-hop/dance beat. The production is freakin' amazing. That being said...everything else is seriously underwhelming. The lyrics are repetitive and not in a catchy way but in a "this song could be SO much more if there were more lyrics" way. The chorus makes for a great hook but the verses kinda suck. The bridge toward the end is nice but still, too little too late. Even as a club banger, it leaves a lot to be deserved. I remember loving this track when the album dropped but now?? I always had this cool concept for the video if this became a single with Janet leading an army of aliens that look like her as they land on Earth and begin replacing the women of the world with her alien clones. It's basically Invasion of the Body Snatchers but with an epic dance sequence toward the end! [biggrin] What do you guys think? Anyway, a song that sounds technically strong but ultimately too short in length and could have been so much....wait for it...BETTA!
(C)
16. Play Selection-Interlude
Janet commands Kyoko to make another music selection...anyway...
Janet commands Kyoko to make another music selection...anyway...
17. "The 1" (Featuring Missy Elliot)
Oh Thank God! I thought the quality of the album took a scary turn for the worst and would never recover. But then you have this fun, fast paced, sexually charged dance track between JJ and Missy Elliot to save the album from complete mediocrity. The chorus alone and the way Janet sings it is insanely catchy with some crazy harmonies actually! I don't want to say anymore because I just appreciate that there were more good songs on the album again. So Yay!
(B)
Oh Thank God! I thought the quality of the album took a scary turn for the worst and would never recover. But then you have this fun, fast paced, sexually charged dance track between JJ and Missy Elliot to save the album from complete mediocrity. The chorus alone and the way Janet sings it is insanely catchy with some crazy harmonies actually! I don't want to say anymore because I just appreciate that there were more good songs on the album again. So Yay!
(B)
18. "What's Ur Name"
Hmmm...this has always been ok for me. It feels like a lost track from "Damita Jo" in all it's generic R&Bness. It's also another quick, short track that comes and goes with little impression to be made just like the tracks off that '04 nightmare. I mean, it could be worse but could certainly be better. It's just there. Obviously filler. Next!
(C)
Hmmm...this has always been ok for me. It feels like a lost track from "Damita Jo" in all it's generic R&Bness. It's also another quick, short track that comes and goes with little impression to be made just like the tracks off that '04 nightmare. I mean, it could be worse but could certainly be better. It's just there. Obviously filler. Next!
(C)
19. The Meaning
Janet defines "Discipline", starting out very educational and standard before it gets really graphic and dirty...oh boy....here we go!
Janet defines "Discipline", starting out very educational and standard before it gets really graphic and dirty...oh boy....here we go!
20. "Discipline"
This is without a doubt, Janet's most disturbing sex track to date! [gonemad] It's not as graphic and slutty as "Would You Mind" and "Warmth" but the moaning is back with a vengeance! Sounding now like painful cries of pleasure as Janet gets...."disciplined". Yikes! What saves it from being a complete disaster is Ne-Yo's stunning production. He has a good ear for Janet's music once again and Janet's vocals are pretty good at times, but this kinda of S&M/sadistic sex acts were covered before with "Rope Burn" on "TVR" (and done MUCH better). This time Janet seems even more content with being abused for sexual pleasure and the cries for her "daddy" to make her cry left many painfully confused! Was she taking about Jermaine and their sex life? Her father abusing her as a child!? It's fascinating...but all for the wrong reasons! Like I said, they have been worse sex songs from Janet but this one is still a bit of a mess but it's a nice sounding, truly disturbed mess. If that makes sense.
(C)
This is without a doubt, Janet's most disturbing sex track to date! [gonemad] It's not as graphic and slutty as "Would You Mind" and "Warmth" but the moaning is back with a vengeance! Sounding now like painful cries of pleasure as Janet gets...."disciplined". Yikes! What saves it from being a complete disaster is Ne-Yo's stunning production. He has a good ear for Janet's music once again and Janet's vocals are pretty good at times, but this kinda of S&M/sadistic sex acts were covered before with "Rope Burn" on "TVR" (and done MUCH better). This time Janet seems even more content with being abused for sexual pleasure and the cries for her "daddy" to make her cry left many painfully confused! Was she taking about Jermaine and their sex life? Her father abusing her as a child!? It's fascinating...but all for the wrong reasons! Like I said, they have been worse sex songs from Janet but this one is still a bit of a mess but it's a nice sounding, truly disturbed mess. If that makes sense.
(C)
21. Back-Interlude
Oh shut up Kyoko, you sorry excuse for a Siri! And didn't Janet already have an interlude called Back on the Janet album!? Gurl bye!
22. "Curtains"
Now, "Curtains" has a cool groove and sound to it. It actually makes for the perfect ending track with the metaphorical curtains having multiple means from the closing of a show to Janet giving her man (possibly even a fan) her own private show in the bedroom as the night dines down and the "curtains" are closed. It's nothing really special or a standout but it's a solid ender to the album and nice to listen too.
(B-)
Now, "Curtains" has a cool groove and sound to it. It actually makes for the perfect ending track with the metaphorical curtains having multiple means from the closing of a show to Janet giving her man (possibly even a fan) her own private show in the bedroom as the night dines down and the "curtains" are closed. It's nothing really special or a standout but it's a solid ender to the album and nice to listen too.
(B-)
Oh "Discipline"...you were doing so well! My biggest problem with album is that it isn't really Janet's album. Shoot that my biggest problem will all her post-"All For You" albums! Like I said during the end of my "All For You" review, it was the last Janet Jackson album to feel like a Janet Jackson album. The last album where what was going on in her life was the driving force behind the music. "Damita Jo" was just a poor man's follow-up to "All For You", "20 Y.O." was average at best and then you have "Discipline", Janet's first (and only) album with Island Def Jam Records after her contract with Virgin Records ended. Apparently, the whole album was written and produced for her with very little imput from Janet herself. Jimmy and Terry were completely absent for the first time since they started working with Janet with "Control"; now replaced by Jermaine, Ne-Yo, Darkchild and various other producers that were hot at the time. The results this time are mixed as half the album is awesome and the other is mediocre at best. The first half is Janet's best album in years actually! "Feedback" and "2nite" are awesome dance/club hits, "Can't B Good" is a tender, timeless mid-tempo groove, "Rollercoaster" is a fine example of experimental music done right, "Rock With U" is a terrific techno track, etc. But then..."Never Letchu Go" starts and a completely different album comes out of no where! "Greatest X" is my "Greatest Next", "So Much Betta" is painfully ironic, "What's Ur Name" is fine, if not horribly generic, "Discipline" ups Janet's sex drive again with even more disturbing results, etc. I mean "The 1" and "Curtains" are the only real saving grace. It's a shame as "Discipline" seemed like a very solid album conceptually when Janet was promoting it at the time. She said the album was about the discipline she had in her work ethic as well as many different avenues in her life. Cool right? But yet, the title track is just another excuse to make her fans and casual listeners seriously uncomfortable with her depraved sex life! No ma'am! [no] Either way, "Discipline" was Janet's most successful album commercially since "All For You". Not only was "Feedback" a sizable hit but the album went to #1, her 6th chart topper to date! MTV finally started playing her videos on their channel again (even performing on TRL to a very hyped audience!) and radio stations were playing her new music again. It's just a shame that Def Jam Records mistreated Janet so poorly in terms of promotion for the album. The album could have easily been a bigger hit and sold way more record than it did. I think it only sold barely 500,000 in the U.S. and not even a million worldwide. How the hell did that happen?! The first half of the album currently had plenty of potential hits that could have done well worldwide, not just in the US. Apparently, the trouble started when the record company want "Rock With U" as the second single when Janet wanted "LUV" instead. So the label dropped all promotion for the album which is beyond cruel considering 1) Janet did comply and "Rock With U" made for an exceptional video! 2) Janet was not just some random artist, she was a veteran! A pop Icon who was in the music business for over 25+ years and deserved WAAAYYY more respect, even seniority than the label allowed. It's no wonder both Janet and label tarnished their relationship after only a year and she moved on to promote the album herself with her Rock Witchu Tour. My sister actually got me tickets to go see the show in October '08 but Janet got sick of course and had to cancel the rest of the tour, which is a shame because from the clips I saw online, the tour was such a breath of fresh air after her last 3 tours that seemed to follow the same formula: Control Medley, Whimsical Medley, etc. It was so cool visually and I liked the Mohawk she sported during the tour! Anyway....
"As an album made for a legendary pop star, only half of "Discipline" literally lives up to her standards. It features some of her (or should I say her producers at the time) best work in years but the second half becomes suddenly underwhelming with only a few good tracks to keep you invested in Janet's last album of the 2000s."
(C-)
(C-)
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