Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 06/19/2007
Chrisette Michele sometimes seems more eager to please her elders than express herself straight-up. Take, for instance, "I've been studying
Miss Billie,
Miss Ella,
Miss Sarah Vaughan, and
Miss Natalie Cole," from
"Let's Rock." That's reverence. And then there's "Take me back in the day, when lovin' was pure," from
"Golden." She was born in 1982. Above all, there's her voice, a gently scratchy instrument that occasionally plays up the fact that none of its antecedents were born after the '60s. But that's just her voice, which adapts to each mostly fresh-sounding production on
I Am, though there is no denying she is not going to impinge upon the territories staked out by most other
R&B artists her age. Following strategically placed features on
Jay-Z's
Kingdom Come and
Nas'
Hip Hop Is Dead -- her roles on
"Lost One," "Still Dreaming," and
"Can't Forget About You" could've been mistaken for dusty samples -- the album straddles old-but-new/new-but-old rather adeptly, and the ease with which she shifts from approach to approach is impressive. (She also co-wrote each song.) The album could've used a couple more upbeat and assertive songs in the vein of the shuffling,
Run-D.M.C.-sampling,
will.i.am-produced
"Let's Rock" ("Let me get a verse, yeah I got nerve, don't need to rehearse, I just need to blow"), and a track with a production credit to the website
SalaamRemi.com titled
"Good Girl" ("Oh why do my sisters steady find misters who swear what they give her is better than quality time?"). They are two of the finest surrogate
Lauryn Hill tracks of 2007. As unassuming as it is,
"Mr. Radio," one of several productions from apparent newcomer
Mo Jaz, is the album's key standout.
Chrisette's leisurely dismissal of the love songs she's tolerating is far more seductive than her targets, and the performance is so unforced that it might just be the way she talks. Serious skills.
~Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 2
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Mykal Knowles
from Philadelphia, PA
Just O.K.
Chrisette Michele's album is worth listening to. She offers a beautiful and unique voice, reminiscent of jazz singers before her like Ms. Billie Holiday. Her first single (If I Have My Way) though beautiful, doesn't completely display her complete range or ability. And the rest of the album just ok. She's not bad at all but unfortunately there are no really strong vocals on the album, however her lyrics offer more, but production is lacking. So I say that though Ms. Michele does have great vocal ability, she may wanna stick to singing hooks for established artists or head back to the studio and try again.
A reviewer
from Phila, PA
Refreshing
Chrisette Michele's I AM is refreshing and offers hope for the lack in R&B music. Her vocal ability and range is awesome!!! And her lyrics have meaning, they aren't just your everyday love songs and/or break up songs. Please don't sleep on Ms. Chrisette Michele. She's definitely a hot artist for this year.
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