Multiplatinum soul singer Mary J. Blige released her ninth album, “Stronger with Each Tear,” on Tuesday.
TRIVIA: Blige drew the attention of a music label after she recorded a demo tape on a mall karaoke machine in White Plains, N.Y.
STANDOUTS: Blige worked with superproducer The-Dream on the bouncy, retro-soul track, “Kitchen.”
FANS DIG: Blonde wigs
ANDY SAYS: No one’s going to fault Blige’s smooth vocals. On her ninth studio album, though, you can question her track list. Her latest collection feels like a Blige grab bag: slickly produced modern soul, a little hip-hop, a track she recorded for the movie “Precious.” Some individual tracks sparkle, but on the whole, the mix is a bit dull.
GRADE: B
Andy Rathbun, 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com
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