Mariah Carey has released a new EP called it’s a wrap. The album features her 2009 hit ‘It’s a Wrap’ and is now available to stream or download for free.
The release follows news that the superstar and Jay Z have split professionally following an argument over their future. It’s reported that the meeting didn’t go well and Mariah has now walked away from her manager and record label.
It’s a Wrap
Mariah Carey has just released a four-track digital EP that features a sped up version of her 2009 LP’s “It’s a wrap,” as well as a Mary J. Blige-assisted remix and a new shortened version of the song that clocks in at just over three minutes. The track was produced by none other than Jay Z. Stream and download the It’s A Wrap – EP (Mariah Carey) via iTunes, Amazon or Google Play. The album is available in a variety of formats, including CD, MP3 and vinyl. It is a worthy addition to the pop princess’s ever-growing music catalogue.
It may not be the best-selling album of all time, but it is certainly a winner in the pop culture department. During the week of January 26 alone, it logged a staggering 1.65 million on-demand streams. That number makes the It’s A Wrap – EP a must own for fans of the Queen of Pop.
Malibu
The talented singer-songwriter is releasing an enhanced edition of her album Butterfly to mark its 25th anniversary. Additionally, she is excitedly sharing insights into her forthcoming projects. She’s reportedly preparing a new album, and she plans to release her secret grunge-rock LP from 1995.
The pop diva had been in a period of immense turmoil as she was making her fifth studio album Daydream, and she needed to find a new outlet for her creative energies. She tapped into her love of grunge music and made an alternative rock album called Someone’s Ugly Daughter, which was released under the band name Chick. Carey’s friend Clarissa Dane backed her on all but one song.
But a hush fell over the recording session, and Carey’s then-label Sony Music flatly refused to release the album with her vocals as the lead. Carey described the music as “irreverent, raw, and urgent,” and she cited Veruca Salt, Hole, and Alanis Morrissette as influences on the record.
Despite the label’s disapproval, the album was still completed. It was recorded during the pandemic, and Carey said it helped her get through some of her darkest days.
Now that she’s located the original tapes, Carey has vowed to finally release her lost alt-rock album. She revealed this news in a recent interview with the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, and she hinted that a re-release is coming soon.
Malibu has a similar sound to Grouper, but with more formlessness and melancholy. Its washes of strings evoke those from films that didn’t have the budget to hire real orchestras.
Its piano and synth chords are jazzy and a touch sophisticated, while later high-pitched alien synth swirls bring a futuristic sheen to the project. Ultimately, it’s a mix of old and new that floats into a dreamy melancholy that feels more like a fusion of 50s bebop and future-pop than anything else.
It’s an album that combines the sexy and edgy elements of rock with the more emotional elements of pop, which makes it a pretty interesting listen. And it’s a great way to round out this year’s crop of new Mariah Carey releases.
Demented
Annihilator have made a name for themselves over the last three decades as the pioneers of Canadian thrash, releasing a handful of classic albums including Alice In Hell and Never, Neverland. For their latest release, the band’s Jeff Waters has put his heart and soul into a new record that may be the bands most honest and cohesive album in a long time.
Demented is a bit of a departure from the band’s usual rock-infused sound, incorporating more midtempo elements than their typical guitar driven tunes, but it is still a solid effort. Rather than relying on a revolving door of vocalists, Jeff and co have tried to create a more cohesive, solid sound on this record, blending a wide variety of different genres into a unified, cohesive whole that is sure to please their many fans.
The title track is a good example of this. It retains the deep, heavy rock that is characteristic of the band, but it also incorporates a tempo that is more indicative of EDM than typical midtempo tracks, which is a bit jarring at first but eventually becomes a welcome change.
This is one of the more interesting moments on the record, as it really showcases Sullivan King’s unique ability to stray from his standard rock sound and take a slightly more danceable approach. Unlike other artists who have done this, it feels less like an experiment and more like a natural evolution in a style that is more suited to his voice than others.
Another highlight from this album is the title track “Demented.” This song straddles the line between punk and rock, while still being very recognizable to Sullivan King fans. There’s a great sense of energy to the song, and the riffs are pretty impressive for a debut track.
It also contains a few very funny songs, including the title track and “Fish Heads.” The album is remastered and comes with an elaborate gatefold LP packaging that features rare & never before seen pictures, all-new exclusive liner notes, fun facts, restored artwork, an early guest appearance by “Weird Al” Yankovic and a primeval 1976 version of “Fish Heads” that hasn’t been released on vinyl before. This 40th Anniversary audiophile-vinyl collector’s edition is available exclusively from Demented Punk Records!
The Roof
Earlier this year, Mariah Carey released a re-recording of her classic hit “The Roof” featuring Brandy as part of one of her online MasterClass series. The new visual for the song features clips of both Carey and Brandy working on the song in her Butterfly Lounge studio.
The music video opens with Carey sitting in a limousine, reminiscing about an encounter she had with her lover on a rainy night. As she reminisces, past scenes of her and her lover are shown with them dancing and caressing each other at a roof top party.
When these scenes end, Carey opens the sun-roof of her limo and stands in the rain, trying to recapture the moments she had shared with her lover on that night. She is wet and alone, reliving the moment that she felt her love was so strong.
This re-recording of the song was accompanied by a full-length video, which was directed by Carey and Diane Martel during spring of 1998. The video starts with Carey in the limo, reminiscing about her night and then moving to scenes of her dressing in an old apartment.
With her re-recording, Carey has a new song that is a part of her iconic album, Butterfly. This version of the track was included on a deluxe edition of her 1997 album, which recently celebrated it’s 25th anniversary.
For her new re-recording, Carey is joined by her long time friend and collaborator Brandy for the new version of this song. The two have reworked the lyrics of this classic, making it a song that will have a lot more fans than ever before.
While it might not be the best version of this song on the record, if you like the original you will probably enjoy this re-recording as well. The re-recording features Mariah Carey and Brandy singing together, and the song has a more modern feel than its original version, with a deeper and more vibrant sound.
The song is a great way to celebrate the anniversary of Carey’s legendary album Butterfly, and if you want to hear more from the singer, be sure to check out her new song and video for it.
