Mariah Carey

The definitive modern diva's 1990 debut kicks off with the Whitney-like retro-soul of "Vision of Love," but it doesn't take long before Carey's own personality and astonishing range bust up the comparisons. Carey was an immediate sensation once this album hit, and for the rest of the decade she never gave up the stranglehold she had on pop audiences.

I swear I didn't know her mama was an opera singer, but I'm embarrassed that I didn't guess. She gets too political in her brave, young, idealistic attack on "war, destitution and sorrow": "Couldn't we accept each other/Can't we make ourselves aware." Elsewhere she sticks to what she doesn't know--love. Debbie Gibson, all is forgiven. (Grade - C)