Album Review: Mariah Carey – Here For It All

Mariah Carey is a name synonymous with pop. Known for her five-octave vocal range, larger-than-life personality, and of course Christmas, Carey has remained in the pop culture zeitgeist despite not releasing any new music in seven years. Her last, 2018’s Caution, was successful in continuing her musical legacy, but new album Here For It All had big shoes to fill.

Right off the bat, opener Mi reminds listeners of Carey’s up front persona. Braggadocios but honest, she sings about herself in a way only she could. ‘Lights need to stay on ‘cause I need to be seen’, and ‘I’m a hot tidy hottie-body, yeah that’s me’ just some of the standout lines. Anderson .Paak’s signature drumming begins following song Play This Song, a lavish and richly arranged tune, featuring the aforementioned’s soulful vocals melding wonderfully with Carey’s. Its soft fade eases listeners into single Type Dangerous which although being a complete juxtaposition is another standout track. Bouncing along with a late 90s flare, Carey rap-sings over the verses and glides across the choruses.

In Your Feelings is a big ballad that swings with gravitas, while Nothing Is Impossible strips back all the major instrumentation to reveal Carey’s voice, backed by gentle piano and a paired back string section that creates a powerful atmosphere. I Won’t Allow It embraces the funk to tell the story of a relationship falling apart because the other half couldn’t be change. It’s brutal lyrically but punchy and highly enjoyable. Big names Shenseea and Kehlani also feature on the album, but its the inclusion of soul quartet The Clark Sisters that are the real surprise addition. On Jesus I Do they harmonise with Carey, as well as riff across the entirety of the track. The energy feeds into the closing title track, which despite starting with just piano and voice builds to a climatic ending, featuring some of Carey’s signature whisper vocal lines and impactful drums.

For fans of Mariah, this album will be a very welcome return. It has all the hallmarks of her previous work, but it’s mix of modern and vintage production gives it one foot in the future as well as one in the past. For new listeners, everything here is as it should be, and for someone who has been in the game for this long, that’s no mean feat.

Ryan Bulbeck

Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.