Backstreet Boys (Jive, 1997) by Backstreet Boys

I did own this album (I sold this along with a lot of other albums at a time when I needed money).  It is something I am embarrassed about, but that was popular music at the time when I was 10.  For what it's worth, it does hold some nostalgic value because this was the year that I really got into music and I knew not just rap, but pop too front to back from about '97-2000.  I knew everything on MTV and pop radio at the time.  Obviously, a large majority of that music has faded over the years, but those records took me outside my comfort zone and I began to learn what type(s) of music the masses do and do not respond to.

Spice (Virgin, 1996) by the Spice Girls

Okay, I know this album is, for the most part, really terrible.  However, I got this album when I was like ten because my next door neighbor had it and we'd listen to it sometimes when the two of us would be hanging out.  In hindsight, "Wannabe" is a bad song, but it does have a catchiness to it.  The other song that I came to appreciate later (e.g. when I hit puberty) was "2 Become 1" because it was five pretty girls singing about sex and in '98 Ginger Spice posed for Playboy too.

Aquarium (Universal, 1997) by Aqua

I totally get that this is a questionable album to write about because it's as cheesy as an album can be.  However, this album has sentimental value to me.  When I was an exchange student in France in the spring of 1998, there were a lot of parties that took place in the three weeks  I was there.  They were pretty much all dances and this album was in heavy rotation because of all the upbeat and danceable tracks.  Who would of thought that such a bad album could bring back such good memories?

An All-4-One Christmas (Atlantic, 1995) by All-4-One

These guys can actually sing quite well.  However, them singing Christmas standards is just another example of how the group sings other people's material.  "I Swear" and "I Could Love You Like That" were both country songs originally and then All-4-One redid them and took them to the pop and R&B charts where they saw success.

Damita Jo (Virgin, 2004) by Janet Jackson

This is a bad album.  I was a huge fan of the predecessor, but this album seems like it was trying too hard.  All For You is a sexually suggestive album by one of the sexiest women ever.  Its follow up, however, leaves next to nothing to the imagination and comes across as gratuitous.  The one record that's half-way descent is "Strawberry Bounce" which samples Jay-Z's "Can I Get A…"

My Love: Essential Collection (Columbia, 2008) by Celine Dion

My Love is a great compilation album that does a wonderful job of spanning Celine's career.  Between the Titanic soundtrack and the R. Kelly album, I've got a few of the Celine tracks that I like.  Fortunately, this collection grabs a few others.  "Beauty and the Beast" and "Because You Loved Me" are classics that I'm now proud to have purchased and keep in my iTunes library.

The Velvet Rope (Virgin, 1997) by Janet Jackson

The part in that episode of Family Guy where Brian shoots at a copy of this album is really funny.  The album is too long and has too many interludes.  But I really like a couple tracks on here.  "Got 'Til It's Gone" with Q-Tip and the Joni Mitchell sample does Joni's "Big Yellow Taxi" justice, "Go Deep" is a great upbeat song, and "Together Again" is rightfully one of the biggest hits of Janet's career.  All the sexual material on the album is cool, but nothing is left  to the imagination and so it comes across as shock for shock's sake instead of intimate expression (the cover of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" and how Janet made it a song about lesbian love was pretty dope though).

janet. (Virgin, 1993) by Janet Jackson

As the title suggests, this is Janet declaring her independence from the rest of her family (read Janet, period).  The album also continues to show growth in Janet as far as the sexual content of her music.  Control had "Let's Wait a While."  Rhythm Nation had "Someday is Tonight."  And janet has "Throb."  Personal developments aside, Ms. Jackson also covers serious social issues- most notably on "New Agenda" with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.  The two most popular cuts, "Again" and "That's the Way Love Goes," are both very good.  The former is a great record that also worked well with the promotion of Janet's film Poetic Justice with Tupac and the latter is a chill mellow song that not surprisingly topped the Billboard charts for two months.

Spirit (J, 2007) by Leona Lewis

The album has a very generic pop sound for its more upbeat, radio-friendly material.  In fact, it is very paint-by-numbers.  However, Leona's voice is amazing.  It is reminiscent of Mariah Carey at the beginning of her career- a gifted, young woman who makes pop music and adult contemporary material, then puts it all on one album.  My favorite songs are the latter.  If someone has a great voice, I'd rather concentrate on that than be distracted by a catchy beat.  "Yesterday", an album highlight for me, finds Leona singing about how no matter what life holds for love in the future, nothing can take away what was had in the past.  It's a great thought, and it definitely applied to me at the time that I first heard the record in the summer of 2008.

The Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey (KIDinaKORNER, 2012) by Skylar Grey

This three track EP is great- demo quality versions of "Love the Way You Lie", "Coming Home", and "Words".  It is very raw and unpolished.  However, that is what makes it an amazing listen.  It is a very emotionally-driven set that does not become overshadowed by big hip-hop production (where all three of these hooks would eventually end up).  The verses are very poetic (her singing different lyrics than the ones that are rapped in the song's "final" versions) and then are driven home with a strong chorus delivery.  Aside from this EP, I'm glad Eminem's input kept her on "I Need a Doctor" and she was awesome on Tosh.O.  I am eager to hear more from her in the future.

Rainbow (Columbia, 1999) by Mariah Carey

If Mary J. Blige is the queen of hip-hop soul, Mariah is the queen of hip-hop pop.  And even though Mariah's hip-hop transition began with Butterfly, Rainbow couples that new hip-hop vibe with her excellent ballad abilities that were first showcased in the early 90s.  Her  vocal talents are displayed on "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" and her and Da Brat do a very interesting cover of Snoop's dirty classic "Ain't No Fun" with the "Heartbreaker (Remix)."  The album's final cut, "Thank God I Found You" with Joe and 98 Degrees, is a great collaboration which perfectly illustrates how and why Mariah  appeals to both soccer moms and hip-hop fanatics alike.

Dreaming of You (EMI, 1995) by Selena

I saw the movie Selena for the first time last night and was blown away (Jennifer Lopez is mesmerizing).  I was familiar with Selena's music to the extent of "I Could Fall in Love" and aware of her murder, but knew nothing beyond that.  Her story is inspiring and yet all too familiar: a young artist whose potential is tragically cut short.  But the music on this album is magic.  As manufactured as some may say it is, I respectfully disagree.  Selena's voice and spirit is a celebration of life.  Every time I hear "Dreaming of You", I get a little misty-eyed.  Not only do I think of the sad end of Selena, but imagine how special it must be to share with the world how much you love someone.

All For You (Virgin, 2001) by Janet Jackson

All For You is the sexiest album I have ever encountered (how appropriate that it came out on my fourteenth birthday).  Not only is Janet captivating in the album artwork, but her sensual vocals and subject matter make for an intriguing listen.  Production-wise,  the set holds up.  But All For You's highlight is Ms. Jackson on "Would You Mind."  Considering the album's aforementioned sexuality, this is the most extreme case.  It is the only time a song has ever given me an erection.