Artist: Jennifer Lopez

Title: Love?

Label: Island

Love her or hate her, one still can't help admiring Jennifer Lopez's professional chutzpah.

After a year where little went her way, namely the one-two punch of her movie The Back-Up Plan tanking at the box office and her new single "Louboutins" receiving an equally chilly reception in 2010, Lopez simply refused to disappear under the proverbial rock. If anything, her newly minted underdog status probably even made her more determined to make her big comeback and prove everyone wrong.

And my, has she ever…

Remember when she was dating Ben Affleck and was positively impossible to ignore? Well, it seems that Lopez is now everywhere these days, too. But instead of stepping into the familiar shoes of the high-maintenance diva, she's back to reminding us again that she's just Jenny from the Block. Not only is she endorsing shampoo that anyone can buy (gasp!) at the local Walgreen's, but she's a judge/mentor on everyone's favorite reality show: "American Idol."

While Simon Cowell was always known for his snarky—and sometimes mean-spirited—assessment of the contestants, Lopez is all about the love with her Oprah-esque positivity, and she's far more likeable and approachable than ever as a result.

Now with loads of potential new fans willing to plunk down their hard-earned cash for whatever she's selling, the timing really couldn't be better for some new music from Lopez. Unfortunately, there's just not much to rave about on Love?.

If anything, that question mark in the title couldn't be appropriately tentative. Not only do songs like first single "On the Floor" and "Run the World" showcase just how whippet thin her voice really is, but their sheer genericness of the accompanying soundtrack sounds like leftovers from Britney Spears' latest album.

Even when she's embracing her Latin roots on "Papi" or showing her assertive side when refusing to get back with an unworthy suitor on "Villain," nothing rings particularly true—a shame considering this is the same girl who confidently proclaimed "I'm real" in one of her biggest hits.

One would think that something written by Lady Gaga, namely "Invading My Mind" would have a bit of personality. But for all the strides she's made in reshaping her image, not to mention having a veritable all-star list of collaborators for Love?, Lopez's music unfortunately lacks sophistication—and a distinguishing quality.

*This review first published May 10, 2011