The last time Eric Benet released an album, he was going through a messy divorce with his ex-wife actress Halle Berry due to the "hurricane" that became his marriage (too easy I know, lol). Three years later, Benet is back with his fourth studio album 'Love & Life' which was released earlier this month in the US (Sept 9th). The album sold just over 40,000 copies last week (and landed him the no 11 spot on Billboard's 200 Albums chart,) which is good considering that the singer never had much hype or promotion surrounding the project and especially in a time where we're living in a declining music economy which sees albums no longer selling like they use to. Unlike your Usher's and John Legend's, Benet never makes an appeal on shows like TRL or 106 to try and get his music heard. If he had I'm more than certain he'd have had double the effect on sales. Respectfully, Benet still manages to bring the contemporary without drifting too far away from his signature style. The singer recruited his 16-year-old daughter India, to sing backup for him and reveals how he went back to his Milwaukee roots to make such a soulful record. As well as the bristling influence of those classic soul grooves, Love & Life boasts a nice combination of old-school R&B with a touch of latin, gospel and jazz influences....'Love Patience & Time' was a nice way to introduce the album. It starts off with a gospel acapella before progressing into a midtempo horn-infested R&B groove which details the woes and harmonies of love. The sexy croonings of 'The Hunger' delivers great sensuality with it's passion and euphonious bassline whereas the ballad 'Everlove' offers great incentive for a wedding soundtrack. I was pleasantly surprised at hearing my girl Terry Dexter assisting Eric on the beautiful love ballad 'Everlove'. What in the blazing hell happened to this chick? I remember her debuting the same time as Mya 10 years ago (they're friends and are the same age apparently) but her musical career came to a sudden standstill. Her debut (and sadly her one and only) was fierce! I'm reading she's trying to get a new album out on an Indie label. I hope she succeeds with that. As for the actual song, obviously, this was an attempt to redo what he did with 'Spend My Life' (the classic 1999 love ballad with my favourite R&B singer Tamia) but I don't think any song will trump that one. Everlove is still a beautiful track regardless. It was especially lovely to hear Terry making a semi-comeback to the music scene.
Lead single 'You're The Only One' is just as heartfelt in which Eric's daughter makes her very first singing debut. 'Chocolate Legs' is quite the soulful stunner as he soothingly asks his lady to "wrap her chocolate legs around him". It gets even better when he uses a sexy falsetto to embrace those steamy lyrics. In the words of B. Scott, "Lawd, take me higher", lol. Without a doubt, another favourite of mine and certainly an album stand out, at least for me. 'Weekend Girls' offers an upbeat jazzy touch to the album alongside 'Spanish Fly' which comprises of Latin/Salsa influences. The guitar-laced ballad 'Sing To Me' is just as enticing, though I'm pretty certain it's a sample because I heard this before. But it's the quirky 'Iminluvwichoo' a duet with Linda Kiraly which features a different type of groove to the album. Songs like the brilliant 'Still I Believe' delivers with its gritty chorus and infectious Flamenco backdrop which rides the track rather nicely.
The album is definetely a step-up from 'Hurricane'. He never falters as he continually engages the listener with his powerful vocals, and switching to the falsetto register whenever befitting. For me, the album was a breath of fresh air and the songs are brimming with hordes of personality. I actually enjoyed this one from beginning to end and Eric still strives to deliver us with the music he feels passionately about rather than to sell his soul for a hit (take notes Musiq Soulchild!). Much of the album is clearly in dedication to his current girlfriend of two-years Manuel Testolini (who was once married to the legendary Prince) and shows he finally has in fact moved on from the 'hurricane'.
Rating: 4/5
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