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Three Top Ten R&B albums into her career, Chrisette Michele moves from Def Jam to Motown for Better, an album inspired by personal development. Recovery from both a breakup and a negative self-image informs much of the material, from the booming optimism of the opening "Be in Love" ("I wanna love again, try one more time") to the closing "Can the Cool Be Loved?" (I'm on display, no defense/Sayin' what I say, no offense"). Instead of working strictly with Chuck Harmony, as she did on 2010's Let Freedom Reign, she collaborates with several producers. Harmony handles the title track, which sounds like it had Deniece Williams in mind until Chrisette's voice slides into an empowered wail. Pop & Oak contribute the O'Jays-sampling "A Couple of Forevers," one of the pair's better twinkling-ballad backdrops, and allow Chrisette's lead and background lines to dominate. "Let Me Win," made with Carvin & Ivan, recalls the singer's debut with its surprisingly fresh-sounding combination of a well-known breakbeat -- courtesy of the Soul Searchers -- and lively piano. Better overflows with positivity and Chrisette's natural dynamism. The emotional reach within her whisper mode alone is greater than most can express with their full range. Another development is that she is a little less inhibited. Although she remains miles away from Kelly Rowland territory, she's seductive even when she's forthright about "throwing you shade," as on the slinking Wizzy Wow production "Charades" -- easily one of her best songs, laced with inimitable hushed phrasing. The deluxe 20-track edition is necessary for two cool and mellow collaborations with Musiq (Soulchild), as well as a hot, thermostat-shattering Wizzy Wow track.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Shea Taylor, Producer - Robert Shea Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Gardner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kenneth Gamble, ComposerLyricist - Warren Felder, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - LEON HUFF, ComposerLyricist - Jaycen Joshua, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Wansel, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Oak, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trehy Harris, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oakwud, Producer - "Pop" Wansel, Producer
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Tom Gardner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ivan Barias, Producer, Additional Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Darhyl Camper Jr., ComposerLyricist - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lemuel Payne, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lloyd Ashley Pinchback, ComposerLyricist - Darhyl "DJ" Camper, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Olubowale Akintimehin, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Mike Johnson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wale, FeaturedArtist - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Askia Fountain, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Justen "J-Rob" Robinson, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Ivan Barias, Producer, Additional Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Johnnie Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chrisette Michele, Producer, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Thomas Gardner, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Harmon, ComposerLyricist - Ernest Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Harmony, Producer - Kevin Randolph, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Steve Wyreman, ComposerLyricist - Kevin 'KD' Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Ben Chang, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Warren Felder, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Andrew Wansel, ComposerLyricist - Oak, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Priscilla Hamilton, ComposerLyricist - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - "Pop" Wansel, Producer
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rex Rideout, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Marc Johnson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Brown, ComposerLyricist - Tommy Brown, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Travis Sayles, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Victoria McCants, ComposerLyricist - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tauheed Epps, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Finis "KY" White, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - 2 Chainz, FeaturedArtist - Isra Andja-Diumi Lohata, ComposerLyricist - Wizzy Wow, Producer - Mike "TrakGuru" Johnson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack "SUTHERNFOLK" Brown, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Furth, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chrisette Michele, Producer, MainArtist - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Thomas Gardner, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Kristal Oliver, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Darhyl Camper Jr., Producer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kristofer Murray, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Harold Lilly, ComposerLyricist - Mack Woodward, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Tom Gardner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Patrick "Guitarboy" Hayes, ComposerLyricist - Elvis "Blac Elvis" Williams, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Keion Embry, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chrisette Michele, Producer, MainArtist - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Thomas Gardner, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Harmon, ComposerLyricist - Ernest Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Harmony, Producer - Kevin Randolph, ComposerLyricist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Steve Wyreman, ComposerLyricist - Kevin 'KD' Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Ben Chang, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - Chrisette Michele, MainArtist - Mike Johnson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chrisette Payne, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Fahey, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Furch, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Isra Andja-Diumi Lohata, ComposerLyricist - Wizzy Wow, Producer - Dunson, FeaturedArtist - Kenton Dunson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Three Top Ten R&B albums into her career, Chrisette Michele moves from Def Jam to Motown for Better, an album inspired by personal development. Recovery from both a breakup and a negative self-image informs much of the material, from the booming optimism of the opening "Be in Love" ("I wanna love again, try one more time") to the closing "Can the Cool Be Loved?" (I'm on display, no defense/Sayin' what I say, no offense"). Instead of working strictly with Chuck Harmony, as she did on 2010's Let Freedom Reign, she collaborates with several producers. Harmony handles the title track, which sounds like it had Deniece Williams in mind until Chrisette's voice slides into an empowered wail. Pop & Oak contribute the O'Jays-sampling "A Couple of Forevers," one of the pair's better twinkling-ballad backdrops, and allow Chrisette's lead and background lines to dominate. "Let Me Win," made with Carvin & Ivan, recalls the singer's debut with its surprisingly fresh-sounding combination of a well-known breakbeat -- courtesy of the Soul Searchers -- and lively piano. Better overflows with positivity and Chrisette's natural dynamism. The emotional reach within her whisper mode alone is greater than most can express with their full range. Another development is that she is a little less inhibited. Although she remains miles away from Kelly Rowland territory, she's seductive even when she's forthright about "throwing you shade," as on the slinking Wizzy Wow production "Charades" -- easily one of her best songs, laced with inimitable hushed phrasing. The deluxe 20-track edition is necessary for two cool and mellow collaborations with Musiq (Soulchild), as well as a hot, thermostat-shattering Wizzy Wow track.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:51:16
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Chrisette Michele
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Def Jam - Motown
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2013 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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