Charmbracelet

AMG Review of Charmbracelet

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

From the demure photos gracing the artwork (the tight shorts of Rainbow are long gone) and the first single/opening track "Through the Rain," a slow allad designed as "Vision of Love" meets "Hero," it's evident that Mariah is back in the adult contemporary camp. She hasn't completely abandoned hip-hop -- Jay-Z and Freeway guest on "You Got Me," there's a the club-ready groove for "You Had Your Chance" (built on the same bassline as "Nuthin' But a G Thang"), and a take-off of Cam'ron's "Oh Boy" on "Boy (I Need You)" (which he endorses with a cameo); there's the crackling vinyl used as ambient noise on "Irresistible," and the use of dripping water as percussion on "I Only Wanted." She also covers Def Leppard's power ballad classic "Bringin' on the Heartbreak."