Whitney Houston — I Look To You

Dear Whitney Houston,

Thank you for dumping Bobby Brown and thank you for getting off the coke. It's mostly because of this that your comeback album is a success.

While I Look To You is not perfect — there are a few numbers that could have been a bit spicier — it's because of your perfectly timed and flawlessly orchestrated comeback that this album is worth hearing.

"Million Dollar Bill" is truly an amazing piece of retro heat, ideal for dancing gay fans as well as pop and easy rock radio. Some of your ballads are heart-wrenchingly honest and your newly lowered vocal register makes them even more powerful.

We could have done without Akon on "Like I Never Left." He's so bland and you're just the opposite. But I love the "I Will Survive" moment where you pulled that fuck-you-Bobby-I'm-a-better-woman-now bit in "Salute." Sure, this isn't Mariah Carey's The Emancipation Of MiMi or Madonna's Ray Of Light, but knowing the shit you've gone through, it's absolutely worthy of a Diva like yourself.

Thanks, Whitney. Welcome back.

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