top of page

Mariah Carey

ALBUM REVIEWS
CONCERT REVIEWS
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEWS TIMELINE

ALBUM REVIEWS TABLE

Year
Title
Avg. Score
Reviews
Reception
Reaction
1990
Mariah Carey
3.6
57
warm
divided
1991
Emotions
3.3
64
mixed
divided
1992
MTV Unplugged
3.6
36
warm
divided
1993
Music Box
2.7
72
mixed
varied
1994
Merry Christmas
3.1
67
mixed
divided
1995
Daydream
3.1
52
mixed
divided
1997
Butterfly
3
86
mixed
divided
1998
VH1 Divas Live
3.2
36
mixed
divided
1998
#1's
3.2
41
mixed
divided
1999
Rainbow
2.7
82
mixed
divided
2001
Glitter
2.5
63
mixed
varied
2001
Greatest Hits
3.3
10
mixed
divided
2002
Charmbracelet
2.4
84
cold
divided
2003
Remixes
3
10
mixed
varied
2005
Emancipation of Mimi
3.1
93
mixed
divided
2008
E=MC²
3.1
101
mixed
divided
2009
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
2.9
88
mixed
divided
2010
Merry Christmas II You
3.3
50
mixed
divided
2014
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
3.5
53
warm
similar
2015
#1 to Infinity
3.9
8
warm
divided
2018
Caution
4.1
21
warm
unified

Reviews

Album Format

ALBUM SCORES TIMELINE

3

Q

Mariah Carey

1990

London, UK

​

Phil Sutcliffe
3

3/5

Q

MTV Unplugged

1992

London, UK

​

Giles Smith

Mariah Carey hollers solidly, but never really cuts loose or takes a risk. Even so, the hit single "Emotions" stands up surprisingly well, shorn of studio gizmos, and elsewhere, some high-profile tambourines ensure a gospelly fervour.

Full Review

3

3/5

Q

Music Box

1993

London, UK

​

Mat Snow

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

Full Review

3

Q

Merry Christmas

1994

London, UK

​

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

Full Review

3

Toronto Star

Daydream

1995

Toronto, ON, Canada

​

Jane Stevenson

Full Review

2

Q

Daydream

1995

London, UK

​

Johnny Black
3

3/5

Q

Butterfly

1997

London, UK

​

Paul Elliot
4

MTV

#1's

1998

​

​

Kim Stitzel

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

mtv.com

2

2/5

Q

#1's

1998

London, UK

​

Stuart Maconie
5

Amazon.com

Charmbracelet

2002

​

​

Jaan Uhelszki
This is a stunning return to form for Carey.

ALBUM REVIEWS INDEX

Concert Reviews

CONCERT REVIEWS TABLE

Year
Title
Avg. Score
Reviews
Reception
Reaction
1993
Music Box Tour
3.5
16
warm
divided
2016
Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour
3.9
15
warm
divided

CONCERT SCORES TIMELINE

CONCERT REVIEWS INDEX

Score

cold

Miami Herald

Music Box Tour

Miami Arena

Miami, FL, USA

November 4, 1993

Leonard Pitts Jr.

Carey delivered a set that was only sporadically entertaining at best.

Nov 4, 1993

Score

cold

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Music Box Tour

Miami Arena

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

November 4, 1993

Deborah Wilker

A no-risk concert during which sheer volume and swelling arrangements took the place of substantive performing.

Nov 4, 1993

Score

warm

Boston Globe

Music Box Tour

Worcester Centrum

Boston, MA, USA

November 10, 1993

Steve Morse

The 23-year-old Carey shook off her nervousness at the start of last night's Worcester Centrum show, caught fire after three songs and delivered a spectacular performance from that point on.

Nov 10, 1993

Score

warm

Telegram & Gazette

Music Box Tour

Worcester Centrum

Worcester, MA, USA

November 10, 1993

Paul Jarvey

She seemed quite capable last night, although not flawless. The young singer was animated and she appeared happy and comfortable on stage. That, in turn, made the audience happy and comfortable.

Nov 10, 1993

Score

mixed

Chicago Tribune

Music Box Tour

Rosemont Horizon

Chicago, IL, USA

November 18, 1993

Greg Kot

As first concert tours go, it was perfectly passable. Now the songs need to catch up with the voice.

Nov 18, 1993

Score

sizzling

Pasadena Star-News

Music Box Tour

Universal Amphitheatre

Pasadena, CA, USA

November 25, 1993

Boni Anthony Johnson

She worked the whole stage, was a friend to everyone, and came across as pretty accomplished for someone on her first major tour.

Nov 25, 1993

Score

warm

News-Pilot

Music Box Tour

Universal Amphitheatre

San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA, USA

November 25, 1993

Adam St. James

A striking display of talent.

Nov 25, 1993

Score

warm

Orange County Register

Music Box Tour

Universal Amphitheatre

Orange County, CA, USA

November 25, 1993

David Konjoyan

While her lack of concert experience showed, Mariah Carey managed to entertain nonetheless.

Nov 25, 1993

Score

mixed

Los Angeles Times

Music Box Tour

Universal Amphitheatre

Los Angeles, CA, USA

November 25, 1993

Robert Hilburn

Carey’s imperfections, in fact, contributed to making her more human and winning on stage than on record, where she tries to achieve such perfection with her exquisite vocal range and command that the tracks frequently seem sterile.

Nov 25, 1993

Score

warm

News Journal

Music Box Tour

Spectrum

Wilmington, DE, USA

December 4, 1993

Mark Marymont

She didn't tear the roof off the sucker, but at times she came close to piercing the ceiling.

Dec 4, 1993

bottom of page