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| Jennifer Lopez: On The 6 | |
| Sony Music // SACD // $19.99 // June 27, 2000 | |
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| Review by Aaron Beierle | posted May 10, 2003 |
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The Music:
1. If You Had My Love
2. Should've Never
3. Too Late
4. Feelin' So Good
5. Let's Get Loud
6. Could This Be Love
7. No Me Ames [Tropical Mix]
8. Waiting for Tonight
9. Open off My Love
10. Promise Me You'll Try
11. It's Not That Serious
12. Talk About Us
13. No Me Ames
14. Una Noche Mas
* Playable only on SACD players. No CD layer is included.
The DVD
SOUND: "On the 6" is presented by Sony Music on SACD in DSD 2.0. There is no 5.1 mix included, nor is there a CD layer. Similar to the Mariah Carey SACD (and in the case of J-Lo's music, maybe even moreso), the music (especially up-tempo tracks like "Waiting for Tonight" and "Let's Get Loud") would have benefited greatly from multi-channel repurposing.
"On the 6" is the debut album from Lopez, who started her career as one of the Fly Girls on Fox's "In Living Color". Although Lopez has lately had her career somewhat overshadowed by tabloid gossip (can we all agree that we don't care when she gets married?), her albums have spawned several hits and her acting career has gone well, although some instances ("Maid In Manhattan") have had Lopez trying to make wine out of watery material. As I've noted in reviews of several of her films, I believe that Lopez could go even further as an actress if given better material.
"On the 6" is a confident singing debut that provides a mixture of pop, ballads and dance, all with occasional Latin flavor. J-Lo's vocal range does not seem terribly noteworthy on this material, but her voice does have a warm, sensual quality that makes for pleasant listening. As for the various tracks on this album, they're mostly enjoyable, although there are some memorable songs here and some that seem rather familiar and forgettable. "If You Had My Love" is catchy and showcases the singer's style well, while "Lets Get Loud" is wonderfully energetic and fun. "Waiting For Tonight" hits a rich groove and I liked the funky, Latin beat of "Open Off My Love". However, the album's ballads didn't hold my interest and a few of them sounded rather similar. Overall, I feel mixed about the album - there are aspects of it that I really like, such as the singer's successful attempt to bring Latin flavor to her pop sound. However, the ballads sounded rather sappy and by-the-numbers.
SACD benefits "On the 6" in a similar way to Mariah Carey's "#1's": the more up-tempo songs have a greater kick than before, with beats (such as the ones on "Waiting For Tonight") that sound deep and dynamic, while ballads are presented with greater clarity and a more open, airy sound. The singer's smooth vocals are captured with pleasing warmth, as well. Definitely a slick-sounding production, the SACD brought the smaller details and instrumentals out further, while offering improved clarity and an even more lively feel to J-Lo's music. Hopefully a reissue with a 5.1 presentation will be made available someday, as the material could sound great with a playful, aggressive mix that spreads the beats around the listening space.
Final Thoughts: Although I remain more impressed by J-Lo's acting, I found a few strongly likable pop tracks on "On the 6". SACD's improved sonics result in a more dynamic sounding "6", as the album's instrumentals and various beats are presented with greater definition and energy. Recommended for fans.