insomniac1587's Full Review: I Am by Chrisette Michele
Difference is usually something that I celebrate, especially when it comes to music. As someone who doesn't generally indulge in radio anymore (I cherry pick the songs in the top 40 that I like and ignore the others), any time someone strikes out on their own and doesn't follow the status quo in order to achieve a hit will usually force me to give them a second look, if only out of respect. In a day and age where every album sounds the same and every artist is starting to look the same, a break from the norm is much appreciated and certainly welcomed.
Chrisette Michele is out of those artists who saved me from yet another album full of Ryan Tedder, Pitbull, and Lil Wayne collaborations, so I owe her nothing short of a rave review, right? Instead of donning her tightest pair of coochie shorts and shakin' what her mama gave her, Michele quietly emerged on the scene in 2007, covering her body and letting her songs do the talking. Oh, and talk they did. Like a Dream sleekly gets the record going, a flirty little ditty that's a bit of a capsule of everything about the record. Here you find a warm rhythm, deliciously expressive vocals (one of the main themes of the record, to me, is that Michele has runs that are spellbinding and highly effective), and personal flourishes that separate Chrisette Michele from the pack that much moreso. Work it Out is less a throwback to jazz music and more a throwback to 70s r&b, a slight tweak that works to the records advantage. With elements that put you in mind of Saving All My Love for You, it could have fallen into the trap of being dated (in a bad way) or melodramatic. Its hook slices and dices, the piano full of attitude and energy. One of the singles from the record, If I Have My Way is understated and sexy, a romantic come-on done with a wink. It smolders and crackles, Michele's vocals dripping like honey on the simple melody. Her confidence is noticeable and appreciated, as it makes the track a more powerful listen. With talk of seeing heaven loving together, it's one of the tracks that Michele lets her hair down on and loosens up, culminating in some chill-inducing notes. Another single, Best of Me is all guitar strums and finger snaps, a break-up song that strays away from the bitterness and anger that a lot of female r&b artists make prevalent. Instead, it's a hushed and self-aware, succinctly written and effective in its message. Relatably reflective, it's all about positivity and betterment of oneself following a poor experience. Bravo. Your Joy lets you into Chrisette's world a little bit, as this is a tribute to her father. It's not so personal that you lose out on any way of relating to the song, images of tiny hands, quality time, and wedded bliss filling the song. The emotion seeps from every element, especially Chrisette's vocals, which swell with pride and admiration for the main man in her life. Good Girl would be one of the few missteps on the record, though it's nothing terrible by any stretch. The tempo is kicked up a few notches, the hip hop influence from Salaam Remi done in a tasteful way (the lyrics, though, are a different story). It's not like she's singing to Lollipop or anything; it's got a nice bravado to it, though it's not close to being a highlight on the record. Great way to show some diversity and liven up the proceedings, but you'll skip it more often than not.
The Grammy winning Be OK has some personal significance to me, as it's one of the songs I play whenever I go through a bad experience. It's lively and spirited, emitting such a necessary energy that goes along with the mantra-ish hook. Riding sharp horns and laidback claps, this reassuring anthem plays as a compromise between her hip hop-influenced material and her jazz-influenced material. It's not quite Good Girl, not quite Your Joy, but remains one of my favorite listens on the record.Mellow and refreshingly written, Mr. Radio is a song for those who miss true romance on the radio, which has been replaced by talk of the physical (according to Chrisette, at least). It avoids being preachy and turns into a sultry late night slow jam, muted horns and elegant strings molding the track with precision. It's well-written (a general thread through the record), Michele's distinctive writing voice coming through loud and clear.Slightly preachier, Golden yearns for the days when commitment meant something, though it takes a more personal turn and steadies itself. It has such a longing and desperation to it, a confessional ballad that shows that Michele is truly cut from another time. Her vocals are at their loudest on the record here, though still technically gorgeous and never truly overdone; the ending is a prime example of "taking us to church", so to speak.
Let's Rock is the other track that has a distinctive tempo shift from the rest of the record, a swaggering, clap-a-long song with almost rapped verses and a freeing hook. I don't have as much problem with the delivery as I do the lyrics, which seem to be written as "hey, we need something for the young people to be able to relate to". As with Good Girl, it's not a bad track, it's just a track that doesn't flow as naturally as most of the rest of the record. However, this doesn't stop it from being one of the catchier numbers. Is This The Way Love Feels has a lot of gospel influence to it, though the exquisite first minute or so has a bit of an unplugged vibe to it. Once the track gets going, it's still quality, though its placement on the record doesn't keep it in your mind for very long. With a throbbing piano and eager back-up vocals, it plays a lot like a song from a movie, the glowing hook and straightforward approach nice touches. I Am One gives me mixed feelings; its one of the purest, more affecting vocals on the record with a stirring introduction and a raw atmosphere. The lyrics waver between being heartwarming/inspirational and being too serious/insincere, which is one of the main problems I had with the record. It could be some incredibly stirring material, but she randomly comes off as being judgmental or cynical, which is off-putting. Nonetheless, it's an intriguing hidden track.
Though a little old fashioned, I Am was a breath of fresh air in a stale genre. While Chrisette dips her toe into the hip hop water ever so slightly, it's all done with a class and dignity that flips the script and makes everything her own; it's almost as if she agreed to make her record more mainstream friendly but only if she called the shots and was the main voice behind the direction. She doesn't pull off every song on the record, but there are flashes that show a dynamic artist waiting to explore her talent. While her second record made a shuffle step toward the middle in a bid for increased radio play and more young folk attention, I have faith that in time, we'll see who Chrisette Michele really is. If this album is any indication, I think I'll like her just fine.
Majoring in music at 5 Towns College in Long Island, Chrisette Michele cites the nurturing sway of her teachers for where she is today. Although I did...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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