Jennifer Lopez, “Love?” (Island Def Jam Music Group)
Jennifer Lopez’s latest single _ the international smash “On the Floor” _ opens with this line: “It’s a new generation of party people.” And luckily the singer has taken note.
Lopez, 41, isn’t the same star she was 10 years ago, when she dominated both pop and urban music charts. She struggled with 2005’s “Rebirth,” and was worse off with “Brave,” which came two years later.
Lopez has never been a musical icon, and she probably never will be. But she is a great entertainer _ and that’s reflected throughout most of her seventh album, “Love?”
The Pitbull-featured “On the Floor,” which has the “party, party, party” vibe that has taken over Top 40 radio, is irresistible and addictive. It was produced by RedOne, the man behind Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face.” The hitmaker also works his magic on the celebratory dance jam “Papi.” Lopez also has future hits with the Lil Wayne-assisted “I’m Into You” and “Good Hit,” a Fergie-sounding jam produced by The-Dream and Tricky.
Lopez is best, though, when she collaborates with producer D’Mile. The two songs _ “(What Is) Love?” and “One Love” _ were leaked in 2009, but they don’t sound dated. They’re biographical tunes about Lopez’s love life, which includes two failed marriages and stints with Ben Affleck and Diddy. If there’s something this girl can sing about, it should be love lapses _ and when she does, she does it well.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Lopez’s strongest vocal performance is all over the groove “(What Is) Love?” It makes her role as a judge on “American Idol” a bit more fitting.
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