Mary J. Blige delivers soulful album

Mary J. Blige’s style — both musical and personal — has gradually evolved over her nearly 20-year career. The Grammy winner’s ninth studio album, “Stronger with Each Tear,” is the latest evidence of that evolution.

The disc’s title track is an empowerment anthem, representative of recent chart-toppers that have given the long-hailed “Queen of Hip-hop Soul” mainstream appeal. “In each tear there’s a lesson/ makes you wiser than before/ makes you stronger than you know,” Blige belts over a steady, marching beat.

Big buzz singer-rapper Drake joins the 38-year-old songstress on the uptempo single “The One,” and T.I. lends his Southern drawl to the bouncy “Good Love.” Both songs are good, but “In the Morning” is great because the track features Blige tapping into her signature soulful sound.

The same goes for the bluesy “I Can See in Color.” The gut-wrenching selection comes from the movie “Precious,” and is just one more example of Blige’s consistent ability to exude power even when she’s expressing pain.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK OUT: “All up in your fridge, and next will be the stove. Never let a girl cook in your kitchen,” Blige warns on The-Dream and C. “Tricky” Stewart-produced “Kitchen.” The track has an old-school sound that makes this advice sound like something grandma might say.