So I dug John out of my mailbox and I am having a listening session right now. So far, so good. But I am only on “It’s Over” featuring Kanye (I swear I am going to smash that vocoder thing over Kanye’s head).

Ok, no your girl doesn’t give up on an artist just like that. John and I have gone back and forth since he came out honestly. As much as I loved Get Lifted, there were a couple of songs on there that drove me nuts, but have become part of my musical psyche. He always bordered on a ‘Broadway’ type of thing for me and on Once Again that element shined through for me and I did not like it. I agree with UK again, in the fact that there are so many songs that I tend to skip on that album. I don’t know, but I was not feeling that feeling of euphoria for him that I usually feel when a new album is being released by an artist I love. **cue in After The Love Has Gone**

As for Mary, that’s my girl right there. Love her like I love cooked food. However, I must say there are albums she released that I do not rate. But like you mentioned, my compulsion to purchase her stuff wins every time.

Going back to what you said, MJB is one of the modern ‘greats’ as far as im concerned. I admit it would be impossible for me to quit her no matter what she released (I was one of the few not feeling Growing Pains).

Its not really a case of i “feel so-so about him as an artist overall so it’s easy to jump off the bandwagon” … it’s something i can’t put my finger on with him. I didnt ‘hate’ Once Again, i actually felt a couple of tracks on first listen, but i cant listen to it now without skippin most tracks. Get Lifted is still a regular guest at my private iPod party. I think that his debut set such a high standard he just (in my eyes) hasnt lived up to it.

I can’t wait to listen to this new one…this, of course, will probably be the one that I don’t like!