Monica: New Life

RCA

Monica’s new life is evident following her successful 2010 comeback, Still Standing; a new marriage to NBA baller Shannon Brown; and a new audience clamoring for her soulful, melisma stylings. And yet a lot here finds Monica looking back, both musically and lyrically, to her blues. Following the survivor formula of Still Standing, recurring interpolations of yesteryear hits from Biggie to Phyllis Hyman lay an easier path of familiarity back to listeners’ hearts while risking nothing. Past heartaches and dismissals dominate on songs like “It All Belongs to Me,” an echo duet to another 15-year-old hit. Creatively, safety rules with meandering sentimentality. Still, vocally and melodically, Monica’s never sounded better or bluer. (3 out of 5 stars)