This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Music reviewers love Jennifer Lopez albums the way movie critics enjoy Tom Green films — as a chance to go shooting fish in a barrel.
And hell, even a hunting party of Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Helen Keller could bag their limit from J-to-tha-L-O’s latest artistically bankrupt hunk of product This is Me … Then. First and foremost, of course, you’ve got the music — an endless stream of dreadful cheese-o-rama hip-pop glop, all seemingly about her next future ex-husband Ben Affleck. One favourite: Dear Ben, when J. Lo swooningly croons drivel like, “There’s no way I’d leave you / It’s just not a reality.” Wonder how many takes it took her to do that with a straight face? Then you’ve got the laughably smoochy-woochy dedication to, “Benny … Nothing can stop us! Only tears of joy from here on out. I love you forever — or until Brad dumps Jennifer, whichever comes first.” OK, I made that last part up, but come on, you know it’s true. Finally, you’ve got the piece de resistance — a scent sample for Lopez’s pricey new cologne Glow. Yep, that’s right — This is Me … Then is an album that stinks so bad it comes equipped with its own air freshener. Yessirree, folks, from where I sit it doesn’t get any better than that. Keep ’em coming, Jenny.
