Mary J. Blige, 'The Breakthrough' (Geffen)
A soul survivor's journey to the sunny side of the therapy couch.
By Tom Breihan 01.26.06 4:00 AM
We should have started to worry when she promised no more drama. Mary J. Blige’s fierce, throaty wail is suited to anguish; she wouldn’t be able to invest self-help clichés with genuine pathos if her lived-in bluesy swagger didn’t pack so much sadness. So what happens when she gets happy?
