Janet strikes a solid balance between innovation and dependability, bridging past and future better than most—including her legendary sibling.
The album’s movements flow like natural metamorphosis rather than wild swings thanks to Jackson’s voice. Unbreakable finds her continuously rediscovering new crevices in her vocal range.
The best thing about Unbreakable is that it proves Janet can still surprise us.
Unbreakable is a synthesis of ideas Jackson’s collected and tested throughout her career.
It's a successful return for Ms. Jackson, a grown-ass album that refuses either to pander or wallow in nostalgia.
Unbreakable is the mature album, free of commercial ambition, her all-too-breakable brother never made.
Unbreakable is overall Jackson’s strongest album in a decade, a mature and nuanced career progression that sounds effortless.
No one but Jackson can directly reference previous triumphs, address her audience, and yet move forward quite like this.
Janet is reflective, optimistic, and offering encouraging, motivating lyrics to those listening. It’s the album I wish Janet made years ago.
Unbreakable nonetheless feels like the liveliest, freshest album we’ve received from Miss Janet in nearly 15 years, and one that feels like a genuine step forward for her artistically.
Janet has calculatedly played the humble-grateful card countless times in her career, but Unbreakable, a ready-made collection of deep cuts, is one of the first times she's given a fully convincing performance.
Unbreakable is truly a reflective body of work in which Janet refuses to succumb to trends but remains true to what feels and sounds right.
The chunky bass of Dammn Baby hits the dancefloor spot – but otherwise, Unbreakable’s highlights are low-key moments of reflection and nostalgia.
#6 | / | Cosmopolitan |
#8 | / | People |
#11 | / | Entertainment Weekly |
#13 | / | Slant Magazine |
#19 | / | Mashable |
#36 | / | Pitchfork |
#37 | / | The Guardian |
#50 | / | SPIN |