Whether that Super Bowl performance was a cynical publicity stunt or a genuine mistake, you’ve got to feel a little sorry for Ms Jackson. As the glories of her early stardom slip further away, current generations are likely to remember her not for the inventive dance routines, or the slick releases, but for an unfortunate “wardrobe misfunction”. Might Discipline, her tenth studio album and the first with Island Records, rescue Janet Jackson’s credibility?
The album opens with a conversation between Janet and a robot named Kyoko, in fact Kyoko appears in numerous interludes between the tracks. Like the Microsoft paperclip, or Akon’s chipmunk vocals, you’ll either find this cyber character ‘quirky fun’ or want to tear its little electronic throat out.
Intro aside, the lead track ‘Feedback’ signals a return to form. A dancefloor filler, the rhythms recall NERD, Timberlake, Beyonce…..hmmm, in fact they recall a whole host of recording artists who were themselves raised on a diet of Jackson. It’s a timely reminder of the musical importance of pop’s most influential siblings and surely a sign that at 41 Janet isn’t quite finished.
Delve a little deeper into the album however and it’s a little disappointing, there just isn’t quite enough invention to stop this looking like a restoration project. Missy Eliot injects some adrenaline into ‘The 1’, but many of the tracks are lifeless mid-tempo affairs.
On a lighter note, there are some clear opportunities for remixers to conjure success. ‘Rollercoaster’ recalls Mariah Carey’s ‘Fantasy’ and upbeat numbers ‘2Nite’ and ‘Rock With U’ could be tweaked into club hits – Janet herself acknowledges in the latter that “Strobe lights make everything sexier”.
Title track ‘Discipline’ is likely to cause controversy. This might be its S&M aim, but the seductive delivery of “Did I upset you daddy, Take out your frustrations on me… Daddy I want u to take your time (I’m scared)”, aren’t in the best of taste. The lyrics may match the bondage cover shots, but when used in conjunction with youth-targeted marketing, txt spk titles and, of course, our friend Kyoko, they make for rather an uncomfortable experience.
Traditionally Janet Jackson has had a strong following within LGBT communities, the pro-tolerance messages of early work and her substantial efforts on behalf of AIDS charities have earned her widespread respect (not to mention a full mantle-piece of awards). The collaboration with the infamous Beenie Man may have blotted this rainbow copybook, but true loyalties run deep and it will be interesting to see whether the highs of Discipline are enough to maintain her gay fanbase.
Read our interview with Janet Jackson.
Discipline, by Janet Jackson
Label: Universal
Released: 25 February 2008
ASIN: B001329QT0
Buy Janet Jackson's Discipline online and make your own mind up about the diva's new album.