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September 7, 2008 12:08:36 AM CDT

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Blige Airs Growing Pains

Posted Dec 18, 07 5:13 PM CST in Gossip,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Mary J. Blige has moved on from empowerment to soulful diva on her first disc in two years, the Boston Globe’s Joan Anderman writes. "A celebration of the artist's hard-won happiness," Growing Pains won Anderman over by "revealing her weaknesses." Blige still urges listeners to stand tall on a joyful "Just Fine," but now sings a slow “I need you to rescue me" on "Feel Like a Woman."

MJB has “lost or just outgrown the brassy urgency of her twenties,” says Rolling Stone’s Robert Christgau—but he salutes her return to hip-hop that informed her early career. The retro style imbues proud proclamations like, “I work this relationship nine to five.” But while her past confessions felt like "painful late-night outbursts," her new tunes "sound more like she's had a lot of therapy."

Sources Boston Globe, Rolling Stone

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Singer Mary J. Blige performs during a taping of BET's "106 and Park" at CBS Studios Monday, Dec. 17, 2007 in New York. Blige's latest album "Growing Pains" hits stores Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)   (Associated Press)
Singer Mary J. Blige poses in this undated file photo.   (Associated Press)
Mary J. Blige performs at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)   (Associated Press)
Mary J. Blige, recipient of the ASCAP Voice of Music Award, is seen through the crowd as she is interviewed on the red carpet at the 20th Anniversary ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in Los Angeles, Monday,...   (Associated Press)
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