janet jackson

In the hypothetical checklist that makes for a great chart-topping pop album, Janet Jackson's Discipline appears to have all the necessary ingredients.

Awkward, inconsistent metaphors for love? Check. In consecutive songs, love is likened to the process of tuning musical instruments, a car crash and a rollercoaster.

Sexually explicit lyrics? Check. The opening lines of "2Nite" are "Close the door/Dim the lights/Make me feel what I want tonight/I like control/So let me ride."

Forced attempts at reflections about the intricacies of relationships? Check. Look no further than "Can't B Good," "Never Letchu Go" and "Greatest X."

But despite having satisfied all the requirements for a solid album, Janet Jackson's 10th studio release never seems to find a rhythm or any semblance of consistency. One reason may be the unnecessary abundance of interludes. A whopping nine interludes appear on the 22-track album-and none of them are relevant. There are short tracks in which all we hear is Janet playing a game of truth or dare, talking in the bathroom while clubbing and interacting with a very personal and intimate robot named Kioko (I'm not making this up). Finally, "The Meaning," consists of Janet reciting in an overly sexual voice her "favorite definitions" of the word "discipline." I'm confident when I say that it is the most arousing testament of Webster's work I have ever heard.

While many of the tracks all seem to blend together, there are a few songs that are worthy of recognition. "Luv" is an infectious single with a very original and catchy beat. In "The 1," Jackson effectively teams with Missy Elliot to create a fast-paced club anthem that will definitely make you want to dance.

Sadly, listening to Discipline only makes you realize how great previous albums like Rhythm Nation and All For You were. Because, let's face it, Janet Jackson is 41 years old and her clubbing days are far behind her. If anything, we can hope that Discipline is Janet officially passing the baton onto the younger artists like Rihanna who have been trying so hard to duplicate her career.