PREVIEW: MARIAH CAREY

PREVIEW: MARIAH CAREY

*** I've had a sneaky preview of six tracks from 40-year-old Mariah Carey's new album Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel, out on September 14. Her 12th opus boasts collaborations with artists including The-Dream, 27, and Timbaland, 38. Here's my verdict so far:
****Candy Bling: A melodic, mid-tempo soul shaker with understated vocals that leave you thoroughly detoxed. Not the booty-trembling hip-hop anthem you'd expect from the title. 4/5
****Obsessed: The hard-hitting yet elegant lead single has MC declaring: "It must be the weed, it must be the E, 'cause you be poppin', you get it poppin'." Eminem bating? Possibly - but definitely biting. 4/5
****H.A.T.E. U: Mariah has invited fans to guess the meaning of the track's initials, but it's clear it stands for a lady in love as she purrs through a hypnotic, musical aphrodisiac. 4/5
****Standing O: The O is officially for ovation but, given the intimacy of this tune, it must be a double entendre. A toe-tapper but not quite a show-stopper. 3/5
****Impossible: MC loves you "like a milkshake", although the melody isn't quite as full-flavoured as you'd hope. 2/5
****I Want To Know What Love Is: Foreigner's cheesy 80s signature power ballad, given the Carey the Carey treatment and complete with choir and karaoke climax. It's a great re-work. 5/5

(Daily Star)