Better

by Chrisette Michele

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	06/18/2013
Label:	Motown
UPC:	0602537343799
Rank:	141986

Tracks

1. Be in Love
2. A Couple of Forevers
3. Let Me Win
4. Rich Hipster
5. Love Won't Leave Me Out
6. Interlude (In My Head - Better)
7. Better
8. Snow
9. Visual Love
10. Charades
11. Interlude (In My Heart - Convo with Boyfriend)
12. You Mean That Much to Me
13. Supa
14. Interlude (In My Bed - Sleeping Alone)
15. Get Through the Night
16. Can the Cool Be Loved?
17. Ten Foot Stilettos
18. Interlude (Perch Yo Girlz - Phone Convo)
19. I'm Still Fly
20. Love in the Afternoon

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chrisette Michele   Primary Artist,Keyboards
Wale   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Bilal Oliver   Primary Artist
Dunson   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
2 Chainz   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Nello Luchi   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Kenton Dunson   Primary Artist
Bilal   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Johnnie "Smurf" Smith   Keyboards
Darhyl Camper   Keyboards
The Cutting Room Family   Vocals
Ivan Barias   Keyboards
Tom Gardner   Guitar

Technical Credits

Chuck Harmony   Producer
Kevin Randolph   Composer
Ernest Wilson   Composer
Johnnie "Smurf" Smith   Composer
Leon Huff   Composer
Lloyd Ashley Pinchback   Composer
Doug Ellison   Executive Producer
Patrick "Guitarboy" Hayes   Composer
Musiq Soulchild   Producer
Steve Wyreman   Composer
Harold Lilly   Composer
Warren Felder   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Phillana Williams   Marketing
Finis "KY" White   Mixing
Kristal Oliver   Composer,Vocal Engineer
Elvis "Blac Elvis" Williams   Composer,Producer
Cara Walker   Package Production
Travis Sayles   Composer,Producer
Courtney Walter   Design,Art Direction
Linette Payne   Composer,Management,Executive Producer
Jimmy Fahey   Mixing Assistant
Taalib Johnson   Composer
Wizzy Wow   Producer
Harold Lilly, Jr.   Composer
Chrisette Payne   Composer
Blake Eiseman   Engineer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
Charles Harmon   Composer
Olubowale Akintimehin   Composer
Kristen Yiengst   Art Coordinator,Photo Coordination
Derek Blanks   Photography
Askia Fountain   Composer
Ben Chang   Engineer
Bilal Oliver   Composer
Derek Roche   Stylist
Andrew Wansel   Composer,Producer
Priscilla Hamilton   Composer
Isra Lohata   Composer
Johnnie Smith   Composer
Trehy Harris   Assistant
Tauheed Epps   Composer
Victoria Monet   Composer
Jak "Suthernfolk" Brown   Vocal Engineer
Tommy Brown   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Darhyl Camper   Composer,Producer
Autumn Robinson   A&R
Jannell Casaundra Smith   Composer
Justen "J-Rob" Robinson   Composer,Producer
Lemuel Payne Jr.   Composer,Management
Kristofer Murray   Composer
Kenton Dunson   Composer
Earl Roberts   Hair Stylist
Keion Embry   Assistant Engineer
Michelle Sanchez-Boyce   Marketing
Marc Johnson   Assistant
Mike "Guru" Johnson   Engineer
Maraz   Make-Up
Kevin KD Davis   Mixing
Ivan Barias   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
Carvin "Ransum" Haggins   Composer,Producer
Leesa D. Brunson   A&R
Richard Furch   Mixing
Rex Rideout   A&R,Vocal Editing,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Chrisette Michele   Composer,Executive Producer
Shea Taylor   Composer,Musician,Producer
Tom Gardner   Engineer
Mack Woodward   Engineer
Jaycen Joshua   Mixing