The Trouble With Being Myself

Macy Gray

Released on 4/25/03 by Epic
Main artists: Macy Gray
Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B

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From her debut, Macy Gray has been too eccentric to qualify as a straight pop singer, but far too inconsistent to be truly called a great artist -- except, of course, when considering her glorious whiskey-soaked voice. Her third album, The Trouble With Being Myself, is more of the same, a set of sub-standard songs with drowsy chord progressions, humdrum lyrics, and loose-limbed but musically comatose backing from her studio group (heavy on the Hammond organ). Gray still wields her hoarse yet tuneful voice like a genius, hitting every note she wants despite the cracks and never letting it sound overly contrived. Unfortunately, she also continues to be the victim of chart-focused, overly market-tested arrangements that never break out of the mold of soulful, organic R&B and pop. The single "When I See You" is pleasant but clearly a song that required no heavy lifting, and the most intriguing setup on the record -- "It Ain't the Money" featuring Pharoahe Monch and Beck -- is surprisingly desultory as well. (Monch's raps are uncharacteristically awkward, and Beck clumsily plays a stoner Timbaland with his background vocals.) After the unrepentant ego on display with her second album, The Id, the title here (as well as the cover shot, of Gray crouching in the corner of an abandoned house with a mistrustful look on her face) apparently speaks to the fact that Gray's been persecuted for being "different." But the commercial and critical indifference that greeted The Id wasn't due to a lack of acceptance, but to a set of songs that was utterly average. That same lack of distinction plagues The Trouble With Being Myself. Blessed with a voice that immediately announces itself, Gray still hasn't found a musical personality to complement it.

© John Bush /TiVo

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The Trouble With Being Myself

Macy Gray

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When I See You (Album Version)

00:03:43

Audra Cunningham Nishita, Background Vocal - Macy Gray, Producer - Macy Gray, Performer - Macy Gray, Background Vocal - Macy Gray, Lyricist - Kiilu Grand, Programmer - Dave Way, Co-Producer - Jeremy Ruzumna, Composer - Fanny Franklin, Background Vocal - Mark Ronson, Guitar - Dallas Austin, Guitar - Dallas Austin, Producer - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Composer - Victor Indrizzo, Guitar - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Victor Indrizzo, Composer - Sy Smith, Background Vocal - Jinsoo Lim, Guitar

(P) 2002 Sony BMG Music Entertainment

It Ain't The Money (featuring Pharoahe Monch) (Album Version)

00:04:06

Dawn Beckman, Background Vocal - Macy Gray, Producer - Macy Gray, Background Vocal - Macy Gray, Composer - Macy Gray, Lyricist - Macy Gray, Performer - Kiilu Grand, Co-Producer - Kiilu Grand, Programmer - Beck Hansen, Composer - Beck Hansen, Background Vocal - Beck Hansen, Guitar - Beck Hansen, Lyricist - Dave Way, Mixing Engineer - Jeremy Ruzumna, Composer - Jeremy Ruzumna, Lyricist - Mark Ronson, Programmer - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Background Vocal - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Composer - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Lyricist - Pharoahe Monch, Composer - Pharoahe Monch, Lyricist - Pharoahe Monch, Background Vocal - Victor Indrizzo, Guitar - Victor Indrizzo, Composer - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Victor Indrizzo, Lyricist - Chris Wonzer, Engineer - Thom Russo, Mixing Engineer

(P) 2002 Sony BMG Music Entertainment

She Ain't Right For You (Album Version)

00:04:11

Mike Melnick, Engineer - Chino Smith, Background Vocal - David Campbell, Arranger - Macy Gray, Producer - Macy Gray, Composer - Macy Gray, Lyricist - Macy Gray, Performer - Tim Lauber, 2nd Engineer - Dave Way, Recording Engineer - Jeremy Ruzumna, Composer - Neil Ward, Engineer - Fanny Franklin, Background Vocal - Dallas Austin, Producer - Dallas Austin, Programmer - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Composer - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass - Victor Indrizzo, Composer - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Chris Wonzer, 2nd Engineer - Rick Shepherd, Programmer - Scott Breadman, Percussion - Jinsoo Lim, Guitar - Christine Sirois, 2nd Engineer

(P) 2003 Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Things That Made Me Change (Album Version)

00:04:29

Macy Gray, Producer - Macy Gray, Lyricist - Macy Gray, Performer - Tracy Wannomae, Bass Clarinet - Printz Board, Trumpet - Printz Board, Flugelhorn - Andre “Dre” Harris, Composer - Fanny Franklin, Background Vocal - Tom “Trombone” Rawls, Trombone - Arik Marshall, Guitar - Dallas Austin, Producer - Dallas Austin, Programmer - Danielle Thomas, Background Vocal - Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Sy Smith, Background Vocal - Scott Breadman, Percussion - Vidal Davis, Composer