Occasionally you play an album with no expectations - or low ones - and find yourself stunned by what comes out of the speakers. Mary J Blige's Stronger With Each Tear is just such an album, and proves that some things really do improve with age.
Blige has put together an album of young, dance-floor-friendly hip hop/R'n'B with the help of some of the hottest producers in the industry (Ne-Yo, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate). In fact, it's not until the ninth track, We Got Hood Love, that there is even a hint of the power ballad often associated with Blige.
For the most part, the songs have rich vocals, complex arrangements, inspiring lyrics and irresistible beats. Those that do not - In The Morning, Colour - are pared-down platforms for Blige's honeyed voice, which steers clear of the 'pitchiness' heard on early albums.
It's hard to pick highlights - tracks blend seamlessly into one another, while never losing their uniqueness. Kitchen is a Motown-tinged slow groove, while I Feel Good is just what the title suggests: upbeat and positive.
Perhaps the most powerful song is Colour, which appears on the soundtrack for the Oscar-nominated Precious. An anthem to self-worth, it's the perfect finale for a woman who sounds stronger than ever.