The album was a breakthrough for Blige. In 1999, George Michael and Mary J. Blige covered the song 'As' written by Stevie Wonder. Mary J Blige, The Breakthrough 3 / 5 stars. It gushes and coos in a way that would have been alien to the old Mary. Tracking Blige's state of mind seems.

At the end of 2005, 's career was supposed to be anthologized. The singer had her way, however, and one of her best studio albums came out instead. In retrospect, her previous album, 2003's, was awkward; the collaborations, likely intended to recapture the magic the duo put together on and, didn't always pay off, and was about to become a wife, so the songs steeped in heartbreak and disappointment weren't delivered with as much power as they had been in the past.

Also contains some of the drama that fans expect, despite 's continued happiness, but it's clear that she has gained enough distance from the uglier parts of her past that she can inhabit them and, once again, deliver those songs. The past does play a significant role in the album, as in 'Baggage,' where she apologies to her husband for bringing it into their relationship.

'Father in You' sounds like a note-perfect facsimile of a classic soul ballad, rising and falling and twisting with a sensitive string arrangement, but the lyrics are pure, acknowledging the ways in which her husband has made up for the absence of her father. On the nearly anthemic 'Good Woman Down,' she sees a less matured version of herself in young women and uses her experiences to advise.

She jacks the beat from 's 'Hate It or Love It' for 'MJB da MVP,' where she reflects on her career, thanks her supporters, and reasserts her rightful position as the queen of hip-hop soul. It's one of several tracks to beam with a kind of contentment and confidence that has never before possessed. Take 'Can't Hide from Love,' where she's such a force that dishes out a quick introduction and knows to stay out of the way for the remainder of the track, or the glorious 'I Found My Everything,' her '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.' Beat for beat, the album features the best round of productions has been handed since the mid-'90s. Apart from only a couple lukewarm tracks and a poorly recorded version of 'One' with, it is completely correct.

Track 1 Recorded at Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA Mixed at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA Contains excerpts from 'I Swear I Love No One But You' written by Bunny Sigler and published by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corporation (BMI) Performed by The O'Jays courtesy of Philadelphia Int'l Records Track 2 Produced for Darkchild.com Vocal production for The Practice Team S Dot Recorded at Darkchild Studios, Chalice Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA and Track Records, New York, NY Mixed for Two Chord Music, Inc. (Tony Maserati) at Una Volta Studios, New York, NY Track 3 Produced for Will.I.Am Music Group Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA Mixed for No Question Entertainment/Loreal Inc.

At The House of Mirrors, New York, NY Contains samples from 'Feeling Good' written by Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse and published by Musical Company Productions (BMI) by arrangement with the Richmond Organization. Contains a sample from 'Feeling Good' as recorded by Nina Simone used courtesy of RCA Records, a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment Track 4 Produced for Blackbaby Entertainment, Inc. Additional production for Songbird Entertainment/Blackbaby Entertainment, Inc. Recorded at Chalice Studios, Los Angeles, CA Mixed at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA Track 5 Produced for Medinah Entertainment, Inc. Recorded at Chung King Studios, New York, NY Mixed at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA Contains samples from composition 'Champ' written by Harry Palmer published by Embassy Music obo The Sparta Florida Music Group BMI. Featuring samples from The Mohawks recording 'Champ' produced under license from Warner Strategic Marketing and Jet Star Phonographics Track 6 Produced for It's A Wonderful World Music, Inc.

Vocal production for The Practice Team S Dot Recorded at Chalice Studios, Los Angeles, CA Mixed at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA Contains excerpts from 'Heart Breaking Decision' written by Robert Aries, Freddie Jackson and Mel'isa Morgan and published by EMI April Music Inc. ASCAP, Wick-Di Music ASCAP and Universal MCA Music Pub ASCAP. Canon Fax L295 Driver Windows 7 64 Bit here. Excerpts from 'Heart Breaking Decision' as performed by Mel'isa Morgan, used under license from Capitol Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc. Track 7 Produced for Infinity Beats Productions/Grindstone, Inc. (Infinity) Strings recorded at Signet Sound, Los Angeles Mixed at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA Contains samples from the composition 'A Garden of Peace' written by Lonnie Liston Smith published by Songs of Universal Inc.

Contains a sample from 'A Garden of Peace' performed by Lonnie Liston Smith courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment Track 8 Produced for Flyte Tyme Productions Co produced for A.B. Experience/Flyte Tyme Productions Vocals recorded at Flyte Tyme @ The Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA Recorded at Flyte Tyme @ The Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA Mixed at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA Track 9 Produced for Vidal/Dre Productions Recorded at Chalice Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA Mixed for No Question Entertainment/Loreal Inc. At The House of Mirrors, New York, NY Contains excerpts from 'I Wanna Be Where You Are' written by Arthur Ross and Leon Ware and published by Jobete Music Co ASCAP. Contains a sample of the recording 'I Wanna Be Where You Are' as performed by Willie Hutch. (P) 1977 Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.