The first time I saw Chrisette Michele was in a song with Nas called "Can't Forget About You". After I heard her parts, I was sure that her excellent voice wouldn't be as good on its own. After listening to it for awhile, I've come to the conclusion that some people who start out as hook singers just need to be given a chance.
For her debut album, I Am, things get off to a rocky start with "Like A Dream" and "Work It Out". Somehow the melody and the voice seem off on both and the lyrics come out feeling forced as a result. Things begin to settle into a slow and powerful soul groove with "If I Have My Way", which sells me on Michele being a woman who has no problem declaring her love for someone she's involved with.
Hell, she makes me wanna date her.
She hits Jill Scott Avenue with "Best Of Me", "Your Joy" and "Love Is You" both vocally and lyrically. Unlike the first three tracks of the album, these songs allow Chrisette the chance to to actually sing. Sometimes it does more harm than good to a singer's voice when the background is more memorable than the singer in the foreground.
"Good Girl" is kinda of a funny attempt at female-empowered thug R&B as she makes it clear that she will be the sugar mama for the right man. I applaud Michele for switching the role, but the era of "Can You Pay My Bills?" seems to be here to stay. I wonder if this song could be banged out in a church on Sunday?
Those of you who are fans of '90's R&B will remember that there seemed to be at least one or two groups that would make a wedding song. Shai did it with "Together Forever" and All-4-One did so with its remake of "So In Love". Chrisette follows in that same tradition with "Golden", which states that she is looking for a committed relationship.
I certainly hope she finds that given there doesn't seem to be that much committing going around. I really dig "Let's Rock" and "Be OK". The whole party vibe of both songs doesn't seem to be a distraction to Chrisette's voice and she seems to able to to keep up with the beat.
I certainly hope that despite a couple of rough patches in the earlier part of the album, that people give something new to their ears. Chrisette Michele's voice is new, and feels new. That alone should be an attraction. If she doesn't do well in the R&B department, she can always go gospel—she definetely has the soul for it.
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