Personnel includes: Mariah Carey (vocals); Kelly Price, Joe (vocals); Jay-Z, Cam'Ron, Freeway (rap vocals); Just Blaze, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (various instruments); Erick E. Bass (acoustic guitar); Rob Bacon (guitar); Sandra Parks Tremants, Sharon Yamada, Lisa E. Kim, Myung Hi Kim, Fiona Simon (violin); Evan Wilson, Karen Bakunin, Denyse Buffum, Matt Funes (viola); Larry Corbett, Elizabeth Dyson, Jeremy Turner (cello); Kenneth Crouch (acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Lionel Cole (piano); Randy Jackson, Oscar Maza, John Patitucci, Reggie Hamilton (bass); Trevor Lawrence (percussion, programming); Alex Richbourg (programming); Mary Ann Tatum, Jermaine Dupri, Trey Lorenz, Melanie Daniels (background vocals).
Producers: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Just Blaze, Mariah Carey.
After Mariah Carey seemingly hit a creative and personal bottom between all her emotional upheaval, a lost label deal, and a flop film debut, CHARMBRACELET appeared to be the highly anticipated record that could very well decide whether she could regain her status in the pop world. Fear not, as the Long Island native bounces back nicely by playing to her strengths as an exceptional balladeer and someone with an ear for a catchy fusion of hip-hop beats and R&B rhythms. Carey's flirtation with rap continues as she shares a mike with Cam'ron on "Boy (I Need You)" while sampling his song of the same name, slips into the slow rollin' "Freeway" with Jay-Z and the groovalicious West Side Connection hook-up "Irresistible". This uber-diva also goes to church with the gospel-flavored "My Saving Grace," admonishes Eminem for starting unfounded rumors of a romance between the duo on "Clown," and does a fine job turning Def Leppard's "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" from a metal power ballad to a smoother lament. All this cathartic venting is topped by "Sunflowers for Alfred Roy," a heartfelt tribute to Carey's recently deceased father.
What the critics say...
Vibe (2/03, p.137) - "...CHARMBRACELET has moments of both frivolity and restraint....her latest is classic Mariah..." - Rating: 3.5 discs
