Change Is Good For America...And, For Janet Jackson

It is only February, but 2008 is shaping up to be a year of great change and growth.  Our political landscape is changing and by years-end we will thankfully have a new president-elect.  This society is also changing.  Our common contempt for the way things have been going in this country is silently uniting us in ways we may not yet realize.  The New York Giants made some changes and won the Super Bowl.  Barack Obama changed his message to "change," and just won the Democratic primaries in 13 states.  Change is good for our country, but it has also been good for Janet Jackson.

Last week, I met with the pop icon to talk about her new album, Discipline and where she is today.  First, I must admit that I am a huge fan of Janet Jackson.  She is in my "Fave 5."  I have been to every concert tour since Control (thanks Mom) and I have every album she's ever made, including Janet Jackson and Dream Street.  With that said, I haven't been thrilled with the last few albums she has released.  She has had some great songs, but overall the albums haven't been her best effort, in my opinion.  Despite my long-standing love for Janet, I am an objective fanatic.  Therefore, I was a bit anxious to hear the new CD and to speak with Ms. Jackson last week.  

Neither Janet nor the CD disappointed me.  Janet was everything you expect her to be: funny, very nice, extremely thoughtful about her work and approachable.  In an instant, she made me forget that I was speaking to one of the biggest stars in the world.  As for the CD, it is classic Janet.  It has all of the elements that make a great Janet record.  I believe, it is her best album since janet. or All For You, depending on your taste.  It is the album for which Janet fans have been waiting to silence her critics and put her back on top.

Now back to this whole change concept and what it has to do with Janet Jackson.  If you look back at her career, all of her mega albums came after she made some huge changes.  With Control, she took "control" of her music, switched management, signed with a new record label and hooked up with two guys named Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.  Well, we know what happened with Control; it catapulted Janet's career out of her brothers' shadows.  In 1993, Janet signed with Virgin Records (leaving A&M), lost a significant amount of weight, sexed up her image and released janet.  It was the first album, in the Soundscan era, released by a female solo artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 (Whitney Houston was the first in the non-Soundscan era).  The janet. album went on to sell more than 8 million albums worldwide that year and produced a string of top 10 hits.

Fast forward to 2008.  Janet Jackson has once again switched labels, she has new producers and is poised for a return to form.  I pointed out this trend of change to Janet and she had not realized it.  "I've never sat back and thought about it in that way," she said.  "And now that you bring it up, you're absolutely right."  If history is a true teacher then, Janet is on her way to a big album and Discipline has the stuff to deliver it.

Another major change is that Janet did not write any of the songs on this album. Instead, she has enlisted the help of recent hitmakers, Ne-Yo, Rodney Jerkins and her longtime beau, Jermaine Dupri.  It kicks off with the Darkchild produced first single "Feedback," truly one of her best dance/club songs in at least three albums.  Then, to give you a brief moment to exhale from "Feedback's" hard-hitting bass line, Janet comes up with "Luv" next.  Another Jerkins joint, "Luv" is reminiscent of the hit "Love Will Never Do Without You."  It's a classic Janet mid-tempo groove with an unforgettable hook and superb production. 

Discipline then takes a "Bathroom Break" with two interludes and a somewhat forgettable Jerkins song, "Roller Coaster" that is salvaged by a memorable chorus.  However, the next three tracks are some of the hottest on the album.  It begins with "Rock With U," which is destined to be a summer club hit.  With simple lyrics and a drive it home beat, "Rock With U" is the first song penned by Shaffer Smith (aka Ne-Yo) and Janet's boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri who also produces the track.  Janet says this track and the following one, "2nite" make her, "wanna kinda space out and feel like I'm in a house club."  That's exactly the feeling you get from both songs. 

Newcomer, StarGate's production on "2nite" is excellent as he takes all of the elements that make a great Janet song (stacked harmonies, breathy delivery, hard beat) and throws those elements into a bridge/breakdown section you will have on repeat.  Ms. Jackson ends this trilogy of tracks with my favorite song on the album, "Can't Be Good," another Ne-Yo penned tune.  It is pure Janet for '08 and, after just one listen, I still remember the chorus.

Other standout tracks include: "So Much Betta" (another favorite), "What's Ur Name," and "Never Letchu Go."  When asked what her favorite is, Janet can't decide.  "I don't have just one...I'm not just saying that either.  They really are all my favorites."  It's understandable because Discipline offers the most even set of tracks that the singer has delivered in a while.  Janet sums it up best, "it's a fun album.  I want people to dance.  There's something that everybody can relate to...even if they haven't approached that moment in their lives, they will." 

In speaking with Janet, you can tell that this is a happy time for her.  Walking through Island/Def Jam's offices, I could also see that her new label loves her and they are working hard to make this album the big success it should be.  So far, Janet is very happy there too.  "I love what I am feeling from the new label," she said, "it's like what I had in the beginning with Virgin...and, that's such a wonderful feeling."  With that said, she is hoping for success because that's how she gauges whether or not her fans like it.  She explains, "hopefully, it will be a big album that will bring happiness to people's lives.  And obviously, I will know that from the record sales if they like it or not."

Some great news is that you might get the opportunity to let her know in person.  Janet told me (although she wasn't supposed to) that she definitely plans to tour with this project beginning mid to late summer.  In fact, she says she was a "full blown tour head" last year when new label head, Antonio "L.A." Reid asked her "to consider going back into the studio and making another album. I just kinda had to stop and switch gears, which was a little difficult because I like to concentrate on one thing at a time."

It paid off.  Displine is one of the best albums she has produced in years.  You can put it on and play it from beginning to end and then, repeat.  It is Janet Jackson's personal discipline and her willingness to make changes that has kept her around and successful for over two decades.  With these new changes, she has once again infused some energy and freshness into her music and her career.  And as Martha Stewart says, "it's a good thing."