Artist: Chrisette Michele

CD: I AM

Label: Universal/Def Jam Records

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

4 1/2 Stars 

You know you are a blessed child of R&B when you have Babyface, Will.I.Am and John Legend as your producers on your first album I AM. That blessed child of R&B known as Chrisette Michele will be a gale force of talent that might possibly scare the likes of Beyonce off her well-earned throne. Although Chrisette Michele is a mere youth in her mid-twenties, she has the soul of R&B ingrained in her voice, which seems to be a cross between Mary J Blige, Macy Gray, and Blu Cantrell. 

Songs like ‘Let’s Rock’ and ‘Good Girl’ are very reminiscent of Cantrell’s R&B style, but overall the debut album seems to showcase Michele’s range in all of the R&B realm. Her songs are gentle and caressing at times, and cheeky at other times. Chrisette Michele seems to play it safe at times, but that can still be considered a great virtue when pushing boundaries at this point in music can seem almost overdone and cliché. The debut album I AM for Michele reminds me of a beautifully coordinated room in a designer home magazine; all the lines seem so crisp and clean and that understated elegance shines through. 

Stick around to the last song, as the bonus track was for me easily the best song amidst a collection of memorable tracks. ‘I Am One’ is a gorgeous ballad pairing Chrisette Michele’s vocals with gentle piano playing, but when the chorus flows in like the sweeping of fog I virtually lost my composure! The song is about caring, community and truly a beautiful song that could be an anthem for something or a great song for a not for profit organization’s commercial. Also, ‘Best Of  Me’ is a catchy and whimsical song that has a great uplifting beat to it and could easily be a hit.   

Overall, I really enjoyed Chrisette Michele for her composure, rich vocals and quality debut collection. Chrisette Michele isn’t running a sprint; she’s aiming for a marathon career. 

1. Like A Dream

2. Work It Out

3. If I Have My Way

4. Best Of Me

5. Your Joy

6. Good Girl

7. Be OK (featuring Will.I.AM)

8. Mr. Radio

9. Golden

10. Let’s Rock

11. Love Is You

12. In This For You

13. Is This The Way Love Feels?

14. I Am One (bonus track)