Janet Jackson
Released on 25/02/08
Label: Mercury
Album: Discipline

There is something unbelievably painful about listening to Janet
Jackson being sexy - the fine line between saucy and embarrassing
being something she's clearly never been introduced to. Listing her
favourite S&M things, "The Meaning" works her into a breathless quiver
which must have had everyone in the studio sniggering up their
sleeves. Meanwhile, her 10th album's title track is writ large on
lines like "Daddy I disobeyed you / I want you to punish me, make me
cry", and enough panting and whimpering to make anyone lose their
lunch.

It's a relief then, to find that these shuddering examples of
Jackson's rampant libido are in the minority on what is, arguably, her
most restrained album in years. Despite the suggestive title and
artwork, "Discipline" is actually far less graphic an insight into
Janet's bedroom antics than anything she's done in the last decade.
It's no less sex obsessed, she's just not quite so desperate to shock
or appear risqué, which means, the odd over excited S&M detour aside,
"Discipline" spends less time being comical and more playing to her
real strengths: smiley R&B and pneumatic club tracks.

Of the former, the Nelly-ish synth sunshine of "Luv" and fluffy cloud
of loved-up wonder that is "Rollercoaster" - "Runaway" updated for the
Timbaland-generation - are as clean, crisp and adorable as anything on
her "Design Of A Decade" hits collection. What's more, the hazy Latino
saunter of "Can't Be Good" proves that ballads don't have to be inane
and that she doesn't have to spell out exactly where she wants it and
how to be sexy.

Back on the dancefloor too, the woman who lest we forget practically
invented mechanical R&B with "Rhythm Nation", proves she's still got
something to offer. And while the likes of "Feedback" and "2Nite" will
never rate as inspirational, they're at least keeping pace with the
Nelly Furtados and co. At the other extreme, "Rock With U" - not her
brother's song, but a very close cousin - marries her sweet and
stomping side for an '80s floor-filler that's both genuinely exciting
and sounds 100 per cent like Janet Jackson.

On the other hand, the Missy Elliott-starring "The 1" is "Crazy In
Love" without a tune, "Greatest X" is simpering nonsense and "So Much
Better"'s sleazy techno-grind is so bad it's baffling. Still, if not
perfect, there's plenty to like on "Discipline", and while none of it
is exactly vintage Janet, there's enough here to keep the Jackson name
on pop's A-list for a little while longer.