J. Lo's 'Love?' has beats, lacks heart

By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

From the opening hit single On the Floor onward, Love? is long on thumping dance tracks that cast Jennifer Lopez in various familiar roles: the siren, the loyal nurturer, the hopeless romantic, the prisoner of love.

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  By Warrick Saint

  Jennifer Lopez's Love? serves up assembly-line songs.

By Warrick Saint

Jennifer Lopez's Love? serves up assembly-line songs.

Jennifer Lopez, Love?

* * POP

Like Paula Abdul before her, Jennifer Lopez was an ironic pick for American Idol judge. Neither woman has much technical ability as a singer, but both have, in their best singles, shown a homegirl-next-door pluck and a less-is-more canniness antithetical to the kind of vocal showboating that Idol regularly champions. So it's disappointing to report that Lopez's new album suffers from such a lack of personality.

From the opening hit single On the Floor onward, Love? is long on thumping dance tracks that cast Lopez in various familiar roles: the siren, the loyal nurturer, the hopeless romantic, the prisoner of love. Predictably, an A-list of collaborators is on board, including Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Stargate and even Lady Gaga (a contributing writer and producer). But their electronically fueled tunes are generally as anonymous as the vocals.

Every now and then, glimmers of the street-wise spirit and cool sensuality that could make Lopez appealing as a pop star ? and an actress ? surface. But more often than not, Love? suggests passion less than product, each song bouncing surely down the assembly line ? yet another item in the impressively efficient and resurgent brand that is J. Lo Inc. ? Elysa Gardner

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