Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

I Am

 
Album Review: I Am
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Albums

I Am

Buy Now

Similar Albums:

As I Am, Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3, Wines & Spirits, Luvanmusiq, Once Again, Breakthrough, First Lady, Complex Simplicity, Afrodisiac, Aaliyah
  • Artist: Chrisette Michele
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: June 19, 2007
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

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

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Like a Dream (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (3:59)
Work It Out (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (4:21)
If I Have My Way (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (4:02)
Best of Me (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (3:53)
Your Joy (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (4:32)
Good Girl (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (4:04)
Be OK will.i.am, Chrisette Michele (3:43)
Mr. Radio (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (3:54)
Golden (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (4:23)
Let's Rock (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (4:44)
Love Is You (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (3:17)
In This for You (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (3:41)
Is This the Way Love Feels (Lyrics) Chrisette Michele (6:46)
[Untitled] Chrisette Michele (3:45)

Credits

Babyface (Producer), Vincent Henry (Sax (Baritone)), Steve Williamson (Clarinet), Bruce Purse (Trumpet (Bass)), Emily Mitchell (Clarinet (Bass)), Stephen Barber (String Arrangements), Jon Gass (Mixing), Bernie Grundman (Mastering), Norris Sirone Jones (Guitar), Gail Kruvand (Bass), Rob Lewis (Keyboards), Rob Lewis (String Arrangements), Manny Marroquin (Mixing), Tony Maserati (Mixing), Sandra Park (Violin), L.A. Reid (Executive Producer), Salaam Remi (Bass), Salaam Remi (Guitar), Salaam Remi (Piano), Salaam Remi (Drums), Rubin Rivera (Engineer), Mark Roule (Digital Editing), Mark Roule (Mixing Assistant), Lino Gomez (Clarinet (Bass)), Andrew Dawson (Engineer), Paul Boutin (Engineer), Nichell Delvaille (Art Coordinator), Nichell Delvaille (Photo Coordination), Doug Joswick (Package Production), Kelvin Wooten (Organ), Kelvin Wooten (Bass), Kelvin Wooten (Piano), Kelvin Wooten (Producer), Kelvin Wooten (String Arrangements), David Lee Stewart (Producer), Kevin Randolph (Producer), Anthony Gallo (Vocal Engineer), will.i.am (Producer), Jason Stasium (Engineer), Eileen Moon (Cello), Sharon Yamada (Violin), Lysa Cooper (Stylist), C. Payne (Producer), Dylan Dresdow (Mixing Engineer), Lisa Kim (Violin), Qiang Tu (Cello), Jeremy Turner (Cello), Amber Noble (Marketing), Shalik Berry (A&R), Matt Jones (Photography), John Legend (Piano), John Legend (Producer), Matt Taylor (Design), Hyomin Kang (Assistant Engineer), Robert Smith III (Drums), Riley Mackin (Engineer), A.J. Benson (A&R), Chrisette Michele (Vocals (Background)), Thom Chadley (Engineer), Gleyder "Gee" Disla (Assistant), Doug "Biggs" Ellison (Programming), Doug "Biggs" Ellison (Executive Producer), Doug "Biggs" Ellison (Management), Doug "Biggs" Ellison (Vocal Editing), Face (Guitar (Acoustic)), Face (Drums), Face (Keyboard Programming), GI Joe (Producer), Don Goodrick (Assistant Engineer), Christopher "Jazz" Grant (Engineer), Courtney Harris (Assistant Engineer), Q. Nicole Jackson (A&R), Christopher Johnson (Drums), Mo Jaz (Producer), Linette Payne (Personal Manager), Kendal "KD" Revanales (Programming), Kendal "KD" Revanales (Engineer), Kendal "KD" Revanales (Vocal Editing), Joseph Smart (Engineer), Nadia Vessel (Hair Stylist), Omari Williams (Drums), Patricia Yankee (Grooming)
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: I Am (Chrisette Michele album)
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
I Am
Studio album by Chrisette Michele
Released June 18, 2007 (2007-06-18)
(see release history)
Recorded 2006–2007
Brandon's Way Recording, The Underlab
(Los Angeles, California)
Chung King Studios, The Cutting Room, Legacy Recording Studios, Sony Music Studios
(New York City, New York)
Housing the Hits
(Freeport, New York)
Instrument Zoo
(Miami, Florida)
Mixdown Recording Studios
(Yonkers, New York)
The Record Plant
(Hollywood, Los Angeles, California)
WoodaWorx Productions
(Huntsville, Alabama)
Genre R&B, soul, jazz
Label Def Jam
Producer Chrisette Michele, Babyface, John Legend, will.i.am, Kelvin Wooten, GI Joe, Mo Jaz, Kevin Randolph, David Lee Stewart, Salaam Remi
Professional reviews
Chrisette Michele chronology
I Am
(2007)		 Epiphany
(2009)
Singles from I Am
  1. "If I Have My Way"
    Released: May 2007
  2. "Best of Me"
    Released: August 2007
  3. "Be OK"
    Released: December 2007
  4. "Love Is You"
    Released: April 2008

I Am is the debut album by American R&B-soul singer–songwriter Chrisette Michele, released in the United States on June 19, 2007 by Def Jam Recordings.

Contents

Production

Michele began working on the music that would make up I Am before she had a recording contract, and started promoting her work by visiting events for independent artists. During this time, she caught the attention of L.A. Reid, who later signed her to Island Def Jam, where she got support from producers such as Babyface, will.i.am, and John Legend.

The video for the album's lead single "If I Have My Way" premiered on VH1 Soul. The video for her second single "Best of Me" premiered on July 6, 2007 on Yahoo! Music, and was later added to VH1's video rotation. "Be OK", which features will.i.am, was released as the third single from the album, whose music video was on BET's 106 & Park on December 18, 2007. "Love Is You" was the fourth and final single and was released in 2008.

Reception

I Am debuted at number twenty-nine on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 26,000 copies in its first week.[1] Despite lack of promotion, the album has thus far managed to sell 419,000 units in the United States as of late February 2009.[2]

I Am received generally positive reviews. Internet publication AllHipHop gave the album a stellar rating, stating: "She is Chrisette Michele and with her debut, I Am (Def Jam), this constituent of the House of Hov delivers one of the quietest, yet most powerful albums out there." The album's third single, "Be OK", won the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.

Track listing

  1. "Like a Dream" (Chrisette Payne, Christopher Grant) – 3:59
  2. "Work It Out" (Payne, Grant) – 4:21
  3. "If I Have My Way" (Payne, Kevin Randolph, David Lee Stewart) – 4:02
  4. "Best of Me" (Payne, Babyface) – 3:52
  5. "Your Joy" (Payne, Babyface, Rob Lewis) – 4:32
  6. "Good Girl" (Payne, Salaam Remi) – 4:04
  7. "Be OK" (featuring will.i.am) (Payne, William Adams, Jr., Bob Marley) – 3:42
  8. "Mr. Radio" (Payne, Grant) – 3:53
  9. "Golden" (Payne, Joseph Smart) – 4:23
  10. "Let's Rock" (Payne, Adams, Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons) – 4:43
    • Contains a sample of Run-D.M.C.'s "Here We Go" (Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons)
  11. "Love Is You" (Payne, John Stephens) – 3:17
  12. "In This for You" (Payne, Remi) – 3:41
  13. "Is This the Way Love Feels" (Payne, Kelvin Wooten) – 6:45
  14. "I Am One" (hidden track) – 3:45
iTunes edition
  1. "Good Girl" (Live) – 4:14
  2. "If I Have My Way" (Live) – 4:05
  3. "Golden" (Live) – 4:28
Japanese edition
  1. "Good Girl" (Def Jam First Look Live) – 4:14
  2. "If I Have My Way" (Def Jam First Look Live) – 4:05

Personnel

Musicians

  • Eileen Moon – cello
  • Sandra Park – violin
  • Bruce Purse – bass trumpet
  • Salaam Remi – bass, drums, guitar, piano
  • Robert Smith III – drums
  • Qiang Tu – cello
  • Jeremy Turner – cello
  • Omari Williams – drums
  • Steve Williamson – clarinet
  • Kelvin Wooten – bass, organ, piano
  • Sharon Yamada – violin

Production

  • Chrisette Michele – producer
  • Babyface – producer, keyboard programming
  • Stephen Barber – string arrangements
  • A.J. Benson – A&R
  • Shalik Berry – A&R
  • Paul Boutin – engineer
  • Thom Chadley – engineer
  • Lysa Cooper – stylist
  • Andrew Dawson – engineer
  • Nichell Delvaille – art coordinator, photo coordination
  • Gleyder "Gee" Disla – assistant
  • Dylan Dresdow – mixing engineer
  • Doug "Biggs" Ellison – programming, executive producer, management, vocal editing
  • Anthony Gallo – vocal engineer
  • Jon Gass – mixing
  • GI Joe – producer
  • Don Goodrick – assistant engineer
  • Christopher "Jazz" Grant – engineer
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Courtney Harris – assistant engineer
  • Q. Nicole Jackson – A&R
  • Matt Jones – photography
  • Doug Joswick – package production
  • Hyomin Kang – assistant engineer
  • John Legend – producer
  • Rob Lewis – string arrangements
  • Riley Mackin – engineer
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Tony Maserati – mixing
  • Mo Jaz – producer
  • Amber Noble – marketing
  • Linette Payne – personal manager
  • Kevin Randolph – producer
  • L.A. Reid – executive producer
  • Kendal "KD" Revanales – programming, engineer, vocal editing
  • Rubin Rivera – engineer
  • Mark Roule – digital editing, mixing assistant
  • Joseph Smart – engineer
  • Jason Stasium – engineer
  • David Lee Stewart – producer
  • Matt Taylor – design
  • Nadia Vessel – hair stylist
  • will.i.am – producer
  • Kelvin Wooten – producer, string arrangements
  • Patricia Yankee – grooming

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Japanese Albums Chart[3] 186
U.S. Billboard 200[4] 29
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[4] 5

Release history

Country Date Label
United Kingdom June 18, 2007 Def Jam
United States June 19, 2007
Canada July 10, 2007 Universal
Germany July 24, 2007
Japan November 21, 2007

References

  1. ^ Hasty, Katie (June 27, 2007). "Bon Jovi Scores First No. 1 Album Since 1988". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003604227. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  2. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (February 24, 2009). "Chrisette Michele Has An 'Epiphany' On Sophomore Album". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/chrisette-michele-has-an-epiphany-on-sophomore-1003944325.story. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  3. ^ "I Am – Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/734598/1/. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  4. ^ a b "I Am > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jbfpxzr5ld0e~T3. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
v • d • e
Chrisette Michele
Albums
I Am · Epiphany
Singles
"If I Have My Way" · "Best of Me" · "Be OK"  · "Love Is You" · "Epiphany" · "Blame It on Me" · "What You Do"
Featured Singles
"Lost One" · "Can't Forget About You" · "Rising Up" · "Slow Down"
Related articles

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Shopping: I Am
Top
am/fmdsr2010 am
ccm4850 amgrand am
 
 
Learn More
Croft, Roy (Quotes By)
Sanders, George (Quotes By)
Smith, Minnie (Quotes By)

Why am I I? Read answer...
Why am I it? Read answer...
Am I Me? Read answer...

Help us answer these
What is in will not get out. What am I?
Are you as of that and am i as of this?
I am i am you?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "I Am (Chrisette Michele album)".  Read more