Here For It All? Kiara says 4.5/5

Mariah Carey has little left to accomplish in terms of accolades, but in terms of music, she is finally doing it on her terms. Here For It All is a triumph after seven long years between studio albums. Mariah has always been a chameleon. Here For It All has something for the classic R&B lovers, “Play This Song,” and for real music heads who long for the 70s on “I Won’t Allow It.” She has even tapped the legendary Clark Sisters for “Jesus I Do” for the saved amongst us. While Here For It All has its laughs and nostalgic moments, it also has a classic Mariah inspirational ballad on “Nothing is Impossible.” Simply put, this record has something for everyone. 

Here For It All shows that after all the strife and rigmarole she is still the same ole MC. Simultaneously bashful and unabashed. On “Mi” she talks her shit in the way only Mariah can. While on “I Won’t Allow Itt” she’s taking shots similar to “Obsessed,” with lines like “enjoy your Chick-Fil-A” and “Can't obtain any Accutane. Should have been more proactive.” People should know by now not to mess with Mariah. Personally, I think “I Won’t Allow It" is about her ex-husband and baby daddy, Nick Cannon but she’ll never tell. 

While musically eclectic, the lyrics range from carefree to soul-wrenching. On “Nothing is Impossible,” Mariah sings, “survived a gruesome fall.” Not many know that last year, Mariah lost her mother and her sister on the same day. Which comes after a breakup with her ex-boyfriend of seven years, Bryan Tanaka. While difficult, Mariah is embracing the challenges on the title track “Here For It All.” “Baby, I’m here for it all. The glory, the shakes, and withdrawals.” It’s unclear who or what Mariah is referencing, but regardless, she is willing to take it on. Which is saying a lot for a woman who doesn’t have to tolerate anything from anyone. 

Still, Here For It All is a return to form. Fans may have been excited to hear her cover of “My Love” by Wings on this album and it doesn’t disappoint However, 80s ballads are Mariah’s forte. Lambs of a certain age will remember when all her albums contained at least one throwback cover. This time it’s Mariah’s doing and the result is a gorgeous rendition of Paul McCartney’s classic. 

Most importantly, Mariah’s voice, despite the criticism, is as colorful and commanding as ever. While yes, it has changed, she can still deliver strong and infectious vocals. As women go through the years their voices mature, change, and get deeper. Especially after having kids. Beyoncé is a great example of a singer’s voice getting deeper after having kids. So the criticism that Mariah “doesn’t sound the same” is irrelevant. Mariah is one of the last living legends and I am grateful that she is still making music this good. Hopefully she continues for years to come. 

Curious about what else Kiara is into? Get real-time updates at shelf.im/kiarascourt