For Jennifer Lopez, musical innovation and artistic originality have largely taken a backseat in her career to make room for mainstream profitability. J.Lo's debut album On The 6 was a latin-pop infused R&B/crossover album that had a few gems amid a monotonous sea of average ballads, while the follow-up albums followed suit with the same recycled formula of money-making collaborations. While Love? is not much of a stark contrast from what has defined Jennifer's aristry hitherto, there is a greater cohesion with her seventh studio album that makes this go around that much more refreshing.
One of the first things evident with this album is the prominence of eurodance beats, something well executed by Lopez with "Waiting for Tonight." Although the former single was a riskier choice back in 2000 when dance music entered a period of dormancy in pop radio, it is a particularly strong direction for Lopez who has always been revered for her stage-strutting abilities as opposed to her vocal acrobatics. Opening with the international smash "On The Floor," the album seems more fitting for a title such as that song as opposed to the interrogative title with which its currently branded. Song after song, the album best unravels when heavy synths and bouncy chord progressions dominate the melody.
"Good Hit," is a more urban dance track (with unfortunate auto-tuning that detracts rather than enhances) but effectively utilizes that uptempo zen in which Lopez is most effervescent. "Papi" much like the lead single, is a tropical-infused dance song that has hit potential, while "Hypnotico" has a hook that may, in months time, become one of those frustratingly catchy, inextinguishable phrases that emerge without warning in your mind.
Unfortunately, with all pros come the cons, and this album is without question an art of balance. Ballads such as "Until It Beats No More" are unfortunate mid-tempo turns that shift the equilibrium by unintentionally reinforcing that Lopez's strengths reside in uptempo dance tracks.
All in all, Love? is one of her strongest and most complete albums. While still far from the magnum opus some might be waiting from her, it is certainly far stronger than her dissipating career a few years ago seemed to indicate. There's no putting on her Louboutins because its very clear she's here to stay.
REVIEW: Love? Jennifer Lopez: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ (6/10)
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