Karolmel

After a very public broken engagement with actor Ben Affleck and a heavily scrutinized marriage months later to Latin pop king Marc Anthony, a less diva-like Jennifer Lopez emerges on Rebirth. Unlike 2002's ballad-heavy {|This Is Me...Then|}, which includes the sappy Affleck valentine "Dear Ben," Lopez now keeps the beats hard and the subject matter light, particularly on the James Brown–sampled single "Get Right" and the club thumper "Whatever You Wanna Do," both compliments of Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" producer Rich Harrison. But, with inquiring minds wanting to know, she can't help but -- albeit indirectly -- address her current relationship. Thus, on the summery, Rodney Jerkins–produced "I Got You," the actress sounds as if she's reassuring her third hubby with lyrics like, "Things are often said to doubt what I feel for you, but words that people say won't take my love away." And on the low-key "Ryde or Die," co-written by Brandy, the former Fly Girl readily admits that she's a fool in love who'd "go through all the pain again just to find you." Although she only co-wrote two songs, including the disc's lone melodramatic ballad "(Can't Believe) This Is Me" with Anthony, lyrically, Rebirth is certainly wag-worthy and the production top-notch, most notably Timbaland's "He'll Be Back" -- a sonic bookend to Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" -- where Lopez pines over love lost. Fans expecting more of a hip-hop edge à la "I'm Real" and "Jenny from the Block," however, may feel somewhat cheated by this more mature dance-pop offering. Anna Powell