Mary J. Blige’s New “London” Album
Pitchfork says: ‘Her new album “The London Sessions” features primary collaborations with Disclosure as well as fellow British pop superstars Sam Smith, Naughty Boy and “Latch” songwriter Jimmy Napes. That it stands as one of the final major releases of the calendar year is fitting as a summation of R&B in 2014. As the sound of pop mutated into dance music a few years back, R&B lost its footing in the American mainstream, leaving even its established superstars in the lurch. But R&B clawed back some of its relevance this year thanks to danceable, appealing songs that didn’t immolate the genre at the altar of pop radio.’
