Janet Jackson: The Velvet Rope Vinyl 2LP

"We've all driven by premieres or nightclubs, and seen the rope separating those who can enter and those who can't. Well, there's also a velvet rope we have inside us, keeping others from knowing our feelings." What a journey this album is. Originally released in 1997, Ms. Jackson wrote The Velvet Rope following an emotional breakdown, which came about as a result of her childhood-and-adolescence-trauma-induced depression. The record, at 22 tracks long (lots of interludes), addresses a wide range of related issues: relationships, domestic violence, self worth, etc. It also deals explicitly with sexuality, as expressed through the likes of "My Need" and "Free Xone." Musically imaginative, the LP lays out a coherent, forward vision that takes from disco, funk, soul, and various electronic genres, and Janet's darker, wistful approach to pop, as showcased in the smash single "Together Again" and more, is a blueprint for alternative r&b that would follow course. In addition to the afore