The Point of It All

by Anthony Hamilton

Overview

Released almost exactly three years after Ain't Nobody Worryin', The Point of It All has a slightly lighter tone compared to that of its immediate predecessor and Comin' from Where I'm From. But just as Anthony Hamilton has been able to incorporate modern sounds that fit with his Southern soul throwback voice, the contrasting feel of this album comes through its subtleties. Take "Cool," the album's lead single, which parlays the stress of financial strain into a good time without resembling mindless escapism. The album's opener, "The News," is as poignant as Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" and Willie Hutch's "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" (the latter even quoted), but it is likewise delivered through swashbuckling blaxploitation-style funk. Vocally, Hamilton has never been as dynamic as he is on this song, switching between his grittily textured baritone and surprisingly effective upper register. As much power is leant to some of the ballads: "Please Stay" is startling in its heartfelt regret; "The Point of It All," sparse and elegant, is like the 3 a.m. version of "Can't Let Go," equally steamy and romantic. There are lulls, such as the drippy adult contemporary of "Her Heart," but they're offset (and then some) by the standouts. At least a third of the album's contents would have to be part of any representative introduction to Hamilton. In fact, this puts a cap on a three-album run as remarkable as any other in 2000s R&B. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	06/10/2016
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music
UPC:	0889853333820

Tracks

1. The News
2. Cool
3. The Day We Met
4. Diamond in the Rough
5. I Did It for Sho
6. Hard to Breathe
7. Soul's on Fire
8. Please Stay
9. The Point of It All
10. Fallin' in Love
11. Prayin' for You/Superman
12. Her Heart
13. Fine Again
14. She's Gone

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Anthony Hamilton   Primary Artist,Clapping,Stomping,Whistle (Human),Vocals (Background)
Idris Davis   Bass
Heavy D   Strings
Fatin Dantzler   Vocals (Background)
David Banner   Featured Artist
Dan Hastie   Organ
The Love Life Orchestra   Various Instruments
Tarsha McMillian Hamilton   Vocals (Background)
Pascal Guyon   Keyboards,Keyboards
Natural   Guitar,Guitar
Tarsha Hamilton   Vocals (Background)
Bobby Ross Avila   Piano,Vocals (Background),Bass
Kelvin Wooten   Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Clapping,Stomping,Theremin,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Tambourine,Bass (Upright)
Wendell "Pops" Sewell   Guitar
Mark Batson   Bass,Drums,Keyboards
Issiah "IZ" Avila   Drums,Percussion

Technical Credits

Mike Tsarfati   Engineer
Vincent Dilorenzo   Mixing
Derek Karlquist   Assistant
Tom Syrowski   Engineer
Heavy D   Producer,Audio Production
James "Big Jim" Wright   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Aaron Fessel   Engineer
Andrew Harris   Composer
Phil Tan   Mixing,Arranger
Matt Marrin   Engineer
Chris Chavez   Engineer
Tyler Gordon   Engineer
Ramon Montgomery   Composer
Stephen Coleman   Arranger,String Arrangements
Franklin Emmanuel Socorro   Engineer
Jonathan Mannion   Photography
Bruce Irvine   Engineer
Rebecca Meek   Package Art Direction
Mark Pitts   A&R
Jack Splash & the Love Life Orchestra   Performer
James M. Wisner   Engineer
Bob Engel   Assistant
Brian Sumner   Engineer
Eli Davis   Management,Executive Producer
Carlos Oyanedel   Assistant
Kimrie Davis   Project Coordinator
Leticia Hilliard   A&R
Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell   Marketing
Frank Walker   Drum Programming
Bobby Ross Avila   Composer,Producer
Kelvin Wooten   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Water Bottle,Audio Production,Drum Programming
Dwight Myers   Composer
Vidal Davis   Composer,Instrumentation,Audio Production
Salaam Remi   Arranger,Composer,Instrumentation,Audio Production,String Arrangements
Mark Batson   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Audio Production,Drum Programming
Josh Houghkirk   Engineer,Assistant,Audio Engineer
Issiah "IZ" Avila   Composer,Producer
Jack Splash   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Lavell Crump   Composer
Anthony Hamilton   Stylist,Composer,Producer,Audio Production,Executive Producer
Andre Harris   Composer,Instrumentation,Audio Production
The Avila Brothers   Audio Production