Janet Oversells The Sex On 8th LP

Damita Jo (2004)
 
1. Looking For Love (Interlude)
I gotta admit, I like this intro to the album thanks to the background instrumentals and Janet's little monologue is nice to listen too. Setting up the..."theme" of the album. If you can call it that....

2. "Damita Jo"
In this bouncy R&B title track, Janet talks about while she may be a superstar, she is "Damita Jo", still humble, down to earth and don't you forget it! But besides having a nice beat, the song is almost forgettable. Its a surprisingly very short song and for the title track, that's a seriously problem! Usually Janet's title tracks made very bold statements about the album's concepts but "Damita Jo" comes and goes so fast that all I got was that Janet is a down a$$ chick...ok cool...but we know that already! Geeze, Jennifer Lopez was more convincing with "Jenny From the Block"! Better song too! This is gonna be a long album....
(C)

3. "Sexhibition"
Well, this track is certainly more lively and thank god! The beat is cool and Janet sounds good vocally but I'm realizing that these tracks are very short so far! I mean it's hard to get a grasp on these songs when they feel like demos or quick previews of the actual songs. "Sexhibition" is fun...but it once again moves too quickly that it almost becomes forgettable! By the time you get on the dance floor, the song is already over and that's not very fun! 
(C)

4. "Strawberry Bounce"
Ok, we have a clever sample from Jay-Z, a 50s style sound effect, a fun beat and a catchy hook, this has to be a good song right? Ummmm....its once again, simply okay. Mind you, I use to love this song when I first played "Damita Jo" but it has lost its charm unfortunately. I just don't feel it like I use to. Sorry.
(C)

5. "My Baby" (Featuring Kanye West)
The longest track so far...and it just had to be "My Baby"! My God, is this the most boring collaboration I've ever heard! Janet sounds bored singing this, Kanye comes in for a verse that make no sense til this day and earned a nice paycheck from Ms. Jackson, the beat is so average, etc. Ehw! I can't! Next track!
(D)

6. The Islands (Interlude)
Janet talks about the Islands.....that's nice Jan. 

7. "Spending Time With You"
My goodness, I don't know what it is, maybe it's because I haven't heard this album in a while but...it's so boring, like how was this released? It's not a bad song, but it's just...there. Standard beat, Janet sings with the excitement of a DMV employee and it just goes on....I just.....I have nothing else to say. I'm finding it heard to critique this album and that's a bad sign so early on. 
(C)

8. Magic Hour (Interlude)
Janet talks about the Magic Hour......uhhh huh....

9. "Island Life"
A breezy R&B track that more a snore than standout. I'm sorry, but I don't know what it is about this album but it just feels so casual and average, it's kinda frustrating! I guess I like that Janet seems more attentive with her singing here, the production is slightly above average than anything else on the album so far....running out of things to say again....
(C)

10. "All Nite (Don't Stop)"
Well, it's no wonder "All Nite" was released as a single, it's the rare standout on the album that reminds us that Janet can make a great dance/club track! THIS is what the album has been missing so far! It's a needed shot in the arm after the near mediocrity being heard until now. I love it. Love the steamy video. The choreography is some of Gil's best work and I hate that it didn't get any appreciation at the time.
(B+)

11. "R&B Junkie"
Janet brings it back with this one! Feeling like a lost track from one of her 80s albums, "R&B Junkie" is a fun trip down memory lane with it's funky production and old school beat. Janet sounds like she had fun with this retro track and I enjoy it immensely. It reminds us of a time where she ruled the pop world and when her albums were top notch....than you remember this isn't one of those albums....excuse me....

(B+)

12. "I Want You"
This is a lovely 70s inspired track that feels like it could have been the perfect summer jam. But it's never been a favorite of mine. There's nothing really wrong with it. Maybe it's because of the video where Janet is shown getting ready to see Jermaine Dupri of all people. Yeah, I know that was her man at the time, but...anyone could see he was wrong for her!! It's not even about his looks because he always had a slimy personality. Anyway, back to the song. It's pretty decent. Just not one I look forward to listening too.
(C+)

13. "Like You Don't Love Me"
Another standard R&B track with a nice beat but it doesn't really standout...ok...I'm sounding like a broken record but this is just decent. Nothing you can go back and say, "that's my jam!" I get the TLC similarities in the sound it has but a TLC album has never been this boring! What? 
(C)

14. "Thinkin' Bout My Ex"
You know, if you're gonna make a song about thinking about you're ex why don't I feel the need to think about that ex when I'm listening to it? Once again, nothing wrong with the production and Janet's singing...it's just once again feels boring. This song just got me thinkin' bout better albums instead! Can I just listen to "the Velvet Rope" over again?! 
(C)

15. "Warmth"
.....Oh boy, I'm not gonna make it. I'm not gonna make it through this album! ....Alright, this song....she's talking about giving head people! "Warmth" may not be as pathetically graphic as "Would You Mind" but it's just as bad. Hell, I'd say it's worse! At least "Would You Mind" has a "so bad, it's good" appeal but "Warmth" is shamelessly forgettable! This song isn't catchy, isn't fun and certainly isn't sexy! And if that wasn't bad enough.....
(F)

16. "Moist"
...we get "Moist!" We all know what this song is about; no need to go in-depth with the lyrics (if you can call them that!) or talk about Janet's mumbling during the chorus...and yet "You make me so moist!" is heard loud and clear! Going on for far too long, this clunker stinks! You can keep your "moist", Ms. Jackson! 
(D-)

17. It All Comes Down To Love (Interlude)
.............seriously, can I just listen to the Velvet Rope album!?

18. "Truly"
This song is like the "Truth" of the album. Sure, it's not nearly as long and I can listen to it straight through. But that's because it's the perfect elevator music. Mmmhmm, I'm coming for Ms. Jackson with this one! "Truly" this was half-assed and not a song that should have been on the album. I don't hate it, but I don't care for it either. It's just dull when really listening to it and should only be played at a restaurant while being drowned out by the LOUD talking of the guests. Yes, I went there! Next track! 
(D+)

19. The One (Interlude)
........Good God, we're at the home stretch guys!! Hold on!

20. "Slolove"
Wow, where did this come from?! A euro pop track in the same vain of artists like Kylie, this is a fun little song only because it's different from the other crap making it standout right away. Janet sounds good and the beat is heavenly. Why the majority of the album didn't make more of an effort like this song is beyond me!!
(B)

21. Country (Interlude)
I don't care Janet! Last track!

22. "Just A Little While"
I have always thought this was a cheesy rock/pop song and while it still is, it's one that's appreciated because it's once again different from the bland R&B music on the album and it standouts! Sure, it has a "Friends" theme campiness to it but I'll take it! I will take it and gladly end this album! 
(B+)

...excuse my bluntness but "Damita Jo" is a bad album! -_- Not just by Janet's standards but by normal music standards! Sure, it has it's moments but they are so few and far in between and don't compare to the highs of her previous 5 albums. The fact that some fans say it was better than "All For You" are opinions I find highly questionable!!? I thought after listening to it, I'd find it average at best but this is mediocrity at it's finest! There was a documentary I saw a few years ago, around 2011, about Janet that aired in the UK. It was actually the best documentary on her career I had ever seen as it was a completely unbiased look at what made her successful but also went in-depth about her missteps as an artist. One part that stood out for me was when Jimmy Jam was talking about making the "Damita Jo" album. Apparently, Janet came into the studio and said, "well Jimmy, why don't you come up with something to say for this album this time!" Not an exact quote but something to that effect. But I do remember Jimmy's response verbatim! "Then why the hell are we making a record!?" Then he goes to say "from Control to All For You, told a story and felt like a complete journey" or something like that! And I completely agree with Jimmy!! Clearly, Janet had nothing to say with this album! Nothing personally, nothing politically, etc. From "Control" to "All For You", Janet had with each album re-invented herself because they were natural transitions as she grew up and had something to say about what was going on in her life as well as the world. But with "Damita Jo", she completely drops the ball! Never have I listened to an album as uninspired and bland as this. Look, we all have our opinions about the Superbowl Halftime show that year. Whether it was a stunt or not is still debatable, the fact it was so overblown is a fact and it undoubtedly cast a HUGE shadow over Janet's career that she wouldn't recover until the release of "Discipline" 4 years later. Then there was the release of Usher's "Confessions", which was HUGE at the time, selling a million copies its first week and literally crushing the competition! "Damita Jo" was Janet's first album since "Dream Street" to not make it to #1 and it sold only 1 million in the U.S. as well as only 3 million worldwide. Honestly 1) "Confessions" was an awesome album (and one I proudly bought!) with MUCH, MUCH better music than "Damita Jo", so Usher deserved all that success over Janet. 2) Yes, the Superbowl incident hurt the sales for the album...but it's a still bad album! 3) What was the theme of "Damita Jo" exactly?! Oh I'm sorry, it was Janet's different personalities: Janet, Damita Jo and Strawberry....yeah.... But my problem is all we get from that album is Damita Jo is horny! That's it! That's all Janet had to say with this album overall!! Seriously!? My God!  When you're doing an album about your alternate personality(s) like say "I Am....Sasha Fierce", not only should the music be up to par but you should be revealing a side of yourself we have never seen before...not repeat the same old repetitive sex garbage we've heard so many times before! I tried listening to "Damita Jo" again, thinking I was too harsh during my first re-listen of it in a while....but no, no, no....I couldn't. This album is frighteningly bad! Is this really the same woman who daringly announced her independence with "Control"? Led a sensational "Rhythm Nation"? Not to mention, gave us a heart wrenching look into her growing pains with "The Velvet Rope"??! No, it can't be! I don't know what happened to Janet with this one...but I don't like it! Not in the least! The majority of it even sounds seriously dated than her previous albums! I'll just let that sink in for you...

"Delivering her worst album since "Dream Street", arguably worse than that! "Damita Jo" is a painful reflection of an artist so out of touch with the music that once made her an unstoppable force in the music industry. When it isn't bad, it's boring and when it isn't boring...it's over. Thank God!"
(D)