Whitney Houston: Just Whitney...


OF COURSE, it's not just Whitney. This album is also touched by the hand of smooth operator Antonio "LA" Reid and Houston's husband Bobby Brown, who continue the development of "urban Whitney" begun on the Rodney Jerkins/Missy Elliot-produced My Love Is Your Love album. The fairly funky opening track Whatchulookinat is a reasonable mission statement but it would be far more effective if it had not already been done to death by J-Lo, TLC and other allegedly streetwise sisters. In pursuing this particular musical avenue, Houston seems more connected to the songs rather than overshadowing the material with her check-me-out diva persona. What is even more encouraging is that she is also more inclined to stick to the script than wander off into warblesville whenever there is a suitable interlude. In reining in her fussy holler, Houston sounds more heartfelt these days; now all she needs is a batch of songs that are actually memorable.