MARIAH CAREY - MERRY CHRISTMAS II YOU REVIEW

It's a bit unfortunate that we needed a Holiday album from Mariah Carey as an excuse to hear her doing what she does best: full-on singing. Easily her best work since 2005's The Emancipation of Mimi, Carey is back in full force with her long in-the-works follow-up to 1994's Merry Christmas, this one sequentially titled Merry Christmas II You.

If you don't celebrate Christmas or like sappy Christmas Carols, understandably this isn't for you. For the rest of us who observe the Festivities, Merry Christmas II You perhaps is even better than its predecessor and an essential listen this Holiday.  

The 13-track Collection features original numbers Oh Santa!, Christmas Time is in the Air Again, When Christmas Comes, One Child and of course an updating of Carey's self-penned Holiday classic All I Want for Christmas is You (Extra Festive). You already know how much I adore Oh Santa!, which follows in the same vein as that latter track with a bit of that classic Motown/The Supremes goodness. The magic gets delivered truly on a goose bump-inducingly good The First Noel, which transitions into a v. sexy and soulful interlude of Born is the King. When Christmas Comes resembles Grammy-nominated Carey track Mine Again (which inspired a fragrance in her latest Lollipop Bling set) in its  classic soul inflections. She reaches all the way up into the upper part of her already remarkable range in the choruses, giving us what we really pay for on a Mariah Carey album.

IS MARIAH CAREY PREGNANT OR NOT? DETAILS ON NEW CHRISTMAS ALBUM

Mariah Carey arrived in Brazil yesterday for her concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the Internet is abuzz with further talk of her pregnancy.  Upon looking at this photo of her, it appears she's sucking-in her stomach.  Ask yourself, now would a pregnant woman suck-in her stomach?  I'm just saying....  When life is good, enjoy your wealth.  You can't go to your grave hungry.

Carey is new also promoting her new fragrance Lollipop Bling, just having shot a Promo Spot for the Home Shopping Network where she'll be hawking her fragrance soon.  You can check out its official website here, complete with an Online Game and all.

Also, it's been announced that her new Christmas album will be released November 2, 2010.  The Collection, her first Holiday release since 1994's massively successful five-times Platinum Merry Christmas, will contain six new tracks and yet another re-working of her classic All I Want For Christmas is You.  Yes!  Stocking Stuffers!  Copies for everybody!!

(Photo credit: Mariah Journal)

MARIAH CAREY LAUNCHES LOLLIPOP BLING FRAGRANCES

Although her music hasn't smelled luscious of late, Mariah Carey at least has her new Elizabeth Arden fragrances to fall back on to pay for Baby's College Fund. Or a new closet of shoes. Whatever she wants.

Carey will be launching Lollipop Bling on July 1, 2010 at select Department Stores. The collection of fragrances features three scents named after her tracks:

MINE AGAIN - A combination of Chocolate Raspberry with a touch of Magnolia creates an addictive fragrance.

RIBBON - A mouthwatering fragrance inspired by the flavor of the Blue Raspberry Ring Pop is combined with a beautiful floral bouquet.

HONEY - An irresistible fragrance combined with a touch of Honey and Pineapple, creating a bright and sunny fragrance.