This Is Me...Then

Lopez insists that she is still the same down-to-earth girl that emerged from the Bronx a decade before mega-stardom hit: "I used to have a little / now I have a lot," she chirps, before cautioning: "Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got / I'm still Jenny from the block." Such a claim stretches credulity given her well-documented status as a true diva, but "Jenny from the Block" shows more pizzazz and humour than anything else on the album, with the exception of her saucy duet with LL Cool J on "All I Have."

Elsewhere This Is Me…Then serves up a recycled paean to 1970s soul, an anaemic cover of Carly Simon's "You Belong to Me" and cloying ballads inspired by Lopez's new inamorato, actor Ben Affleck. Lopez dedicated the disc--for which she wrote nine songs--to Affleck and she includes a far-too-personal and gooey love song to him titled "Dear Ben". Here she declares: "You'll always be my lust, my love, my man, my child, my friend and my king." There's plenty of love here, but what's missing is the verve and crackle of Lopez's earlier stuff. --Jaan Uhelszki

So what are we then left with? Well Jennifer has gone all Faith Hill on us! I had this discarded album dumped in a drawer from when I first bought it on its first day of release. Having since played it a few times I have found a few jems amongst the obvious filler tracks. 'I'm Glad, 'The One' (both versions) and 'All I Have' are enjoyable tracks well worth a listen, while 'Baby I Love U' and 'Still' are both also better then the average.

This smoother, more relaxed style is a change which may disappoint the casual listener, but I'm sure that won't stop the masses from enjoying TIM...T.

Still - 8/10
Loving You - 7/10
I'm Glad - 10/10
The One - 10/10
Dear Ben - 4/10 (Skip this one. Urrgh)
All I Have - 10/10
Jenny From The Block - 10/10
Again - 6/10
You Belong To Me - 7/10
Been Thinkin' - 6/10
Baby I Love U - 8/10

(Bonus tracks)

The One (version 2) - 10/10
I'm Gonna Be Alright - 10/10


Fantastic Easy Listening Album   March 21, 2005
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If you love Jennifer Lopez's urban tracks, you will probably be really disappointed by this album. I ended up listening to the album two years ago and it is a very chilled out album which never leaves my stereo. Tracks like 'Dear Ben', 'I've been thinking' and 'Again' are all perfect for a Saturday afternoon lounging.


Everyone's problem is fine with me   February 19, 2005
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Most of this album is a dedication to her ex-husband Ben Affleck, but not all of it was. She actually says on the thankyou page(s) this would've been a totally different album, had he not have came into her life, so maybe it would've charted higher. 'This Is Me...Then' only charted at #14 in the UK and spent a rather impressive, for that kind of chart position, 32 weeks on the UK top 100!

My favourites tracks are 'Still,' 'Loving You,' 'I'm Glad,' 'The One,' (both versions) 'Dear Ben,' 'All I Have,' 'Jenny From The Block,' 'You Belong To Me,' 'Baby I Luv U!,' & 'I'm Gonna Be Alright' (Trackmasters Remix). So I have alot of favourites! LOL 11 of the 13 songs are my favourite!

Great album!


J Lo in a soulful groove   June 14, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

As an older listener who likes 70's and 80's soul I think this is a good album. Not all of the tracks are an ode to Ben and the album has a wonderful soulful feel to it. 'Jenny From The Block' is not to my taste and I agree that 'Dear Ben' is self-indulgent drivel. Apart from these tracks I find they album very easy to listen to, the opening two song's 'Still' and 'Loving You' would have been big soul hits twenty years ago. 'You Belong To Me' and 'I've Been Thinking' have catchy melodies. A good, soulful album in my opinion and definitely worth adding to your collection.