Where janet., Ms. Jackson's third blockbuster album, implied sexuality with its teasing cover and seductive grooves, its sequel, The Velvet Rope, is sexually explicit, offering tales of bondage, body piercing, and bisexuality. Working with her mainstays Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson essentially reworks the hushed atmosphere of janet., without putting a new sonic spin on the material. With a running time of 70-plus minutes and 22 tracks, the album is simply too long, which is unfortunate, because there are good moments on The Velvet Rope. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Track List
(try tracks 2,3,4,6,8,11,13,15,16,17,18 and 19)
Once again I agree with micah 1814: When ALL MUSIC GUIDE reviews rock artists they some how color the artists with credible words and positive suggestions. But once it is an ethnic artists they are quick to praise and then quick to destroy without really listening to the particular cd. Or in Janets case the reviewer has NO understanding of SOUL!!!!!But seems to know more about bondage and it's attributes. One day as always like history depicts you will finally get it!!!!! too late again!!!!
I have to disagree with Stephen, the concept of The Velvet Rope is an introverted look into self love and emotional healing. Like most of her albums, the first 3-4 tracks sets the tone of what the project is about: Twisted Elegance, Velvet Rope, You, Got Till It's Gone. Then as usual, "Get the point, good, let's dance!", and the album flips into work of great dance songs(Go Deep,Free Xone), political chants(Together Again, What About), and of course Janet's baby making songs(I Get Lonely, Anythi
Poor review posted... this album sounds nothing like janet., and it isn't any more explicit. "Rope Burn" is a little kinky, but not really explicit. There's no "tale" of body piercing--the reviewer is confusing the publicity with the actual album. Out of the 16 songs, only four are about sex. This is a deep, introspective album, Janet's best, and not worthy of such a shallow, dismissive review.