A new Mary J. Blige album means a briefing on where the queen of hip-hop soul is in life, and on her album out Tuesday, she’s all about epiphanies. “No One Will Do” and “About You” are not so much revelations as stop-to-think appreciations of true love. She also emphasizes the spiritual in a version of U2’s “One,” teaming with Bono amid a gospel-style chorus. Blige self-indulgently lets many songs on “The Breakthrough” run too long but keeps her sound fresh, adeptly weaving beats and live instruments, vocals and rapping, melody and rhythm in configurations alternately stark and lush. She may be happy, but, like the hip-hop Oprah, she’s compelled to give back, sharing the clearheaded realizations that came as she traveled from rough childhood to pop superstardom. Her personal insights never feel pat, but the syrupy “Father in You,” explaining that she didn’t have a daddy’s love so she needs it from her man, is a bit icky.
RATING: 3 VOLUME LEVELS.
