Mariah Carey seems to be one of the few artists who I truly admire for a number of reasons. She is, first and foremost, an amazing vocalist. Her music is always appealing to me, and her lyrics are also very professional. She displays an air of talent not seen from someone who is commonly perceived as a blonde bimbo.

Aside from the cover versions she has recorded, Mariah Carey writes and produces nearly every song. Not many artists can do this successfully. Mariah can, and her latest album proves it. I admire Mariah the most for clawing her way back to the top. From 2001's cinematic Glitter-era, Mariah has risen from the ashes and become a beautiful woman all over again. It's taken her a few years, but the wait has been truly worth it; The Emancipation Of Mimi ranks amongst Carey's greatest work of her already-impressive 15 year career.

This album is one of the most anticipated of the year, and the hype has been swirling since January. Anything Mariah releases I will buy, so there was no question I would be buying this the day it came out. Many people were disappointed with 2002's Charmbracelet. I was not.  However, it wasn't an album that left me speechless.

The Emancipation Of Mimi most definitely does. Here, Mariah stays loyal to her trademark ballads, but they're different somehow. Mariah is less dramatic with the vocals, and the songs sound fresh and original. The R&B edge of the album is incredible, roping in only the best in the industry.

The album opens with the first single "It's Like That." This song hit No.4 in the UK charts last week, becoming Mariah's biggest hit single in almost six years. Mariah is not over, people! This song is a hot summer club banger with a catchy hook and some quirky vocals. The lyrics are cool and sophisticated, and the beat is addictive and very Now.

"We Belong Together" is the second single from this album, and it's a very catchy mid-tempo ballad, reminiscent of "Always Be My Baby" from exactly a decade ago. The piano here is superb, twisting around Mariah's emotional vocals. She really belts the song out at the end in grand style.

"Shake It Off" features Jermaine Dupri and is a catchy club hit. The beat is soft but very addictive. The vocal-whoops are catchy and tight, creating a perfect summer song. "Mine Again" is a classic Mariah ballad which might take a while to grow on you. I didn't really like it at first, but it has definitely grown on me. Mariah's vocals are very powerful here.

"Say Somethin'" is an album highlight for me. This song features Snoop Dogg and is absolutely incredible! With The Neptunes behind this track, you might think it's becoming a bit old-hat for these guys to work on every song around, but this is very catchy and so irresistible. This is a true club banger that reminds me of Snoop's recent duet with Justin Timberlake. I love the way Mariah has arranged the vocals on this song and the hand-claps and drum beats work amazingly.