Mary J. Blige

Reflections (A Retrospective) (Geffen)

As the Recording Academy mints new mantle mates for MJB’s previous Grammys, Geffen takes time out for Reflections. Not enough to commission a backstory, discography, or even its R&B sovereign’s Top 10 totality, but the new title track, plus single “We Ride (I See the Future),” and “My Life ’06” complement the accords due Blige’s seventh album, ’05’s The Breakthrough. A duet with John Legend blands short of its modest title (“King & Queen”), while Method Man messes up Ashford & Simpson, but legit hits “No More Drama” and Breakthroughs “No One Will Do” and “Be Without You,” nominated five different ways, rule.

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This article appears in December 29 • 2006.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.