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Carey's once glorious voice is all over the place, her rainbow-and-stars lyrics come off like the notebook doodles of a 12-year-old girl, and her song selection is shocking.

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Minor flaws and all, "#1's" is the aural equivalent of tearing into big box of Godiva chocolates.

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Unfortunately, "Memoirs" sees Carey slip back into default mode, trying to breathe life into a set of fairly listless, mid-paced R&B jams.

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There is some insubstantial filler here, but more often than not, "E=MC2" hits the mark.

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Mariah Carey hollers solidly, but never really cuts loose or takes a risk.

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The emotional experience offered by such a gospel-influenced, melismatic singer remains oddly superficial.

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Her predilection for schlock and show-off vocal posturings irritate but there is one absolute masterstroke in the thumpingly good Spector pastiche of ... "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

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