E=MC2 (Island/Def Jam)

Mariah Carey is one of those singers whose private problems and public persona are hopelessly entangled. From her rocky marriage to music mogul Tommy Mottola early in her career to her much-reported breakdown in 2001, the superstar crooner has battled her fair share of demons during her time in the spotlight, and these struggles have often surfaced on wax. Her latest outing is no exception; E=MC2 finds the 38-year-old exorcising various ghosts from her past.

Unlike 2005’s triumphant declaration of independence, The Emancipation of Mimi, the results here are remarkably mixed. MC sounds equal parts defiant and depressed, finding her footing only to lose her way. “Touch My Body”, the infectious hit single, is all fun flirtation and sexy seduction. And yet, the lyrics are pure paranoia: “If there’s a camera up in here/Then it’s gon’ leave with me when I do/If there’s a camera in here/Then I best not catch this flick on YouTube.”

Elsewhere, Mimi delivers a moving ballad to loved ones who have passed away, “Bye Bye”; a gospel-inspired song about loving your enemies, “I Wish You Well”; and a haunting track, “Side Effects”, that is widely assumed to be based on her marriage to Mottola. These cuts could have easily crossed over into overly sentimental territory—the type of frothy emotional stuff Mariah has mined in the past—and yet, to her credit, they pack a serious punch.

Unfortunately, the album is also populated by sickly sweet pop confections about addictive, dysfunctional relationships. Mariah often comes off like a lovesick teen—and it’s not a good look. (Of course, her curious whirlwind six-week romance and wedding to 27-year-old MTV clown Nick Cannon doesn’t do much to counter that impression.) Still, Mariah, as she always does, sings it all out, hitting impossibly high notes along the way.