Chrisette Michele, "Epiphany" (Def Jam)
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Chrisette Michele's first album was all about love, but it seems heartbreak, or at least singing about it, has given the artist room to grow.

Fans loved the old-time glamour that dominated Michele's sound on debut album "I Am," but they might also appreciate that the twenty-something singer's youthfulness, vibrancy, and attitude get the spotlight on sophomore disc "Epiphany."

Unlike "I Am," which featured the sort of love-struck ballads that might have made Michele's music great for wedding receptions and easy listening stations, lead single "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)" is a sassy getting-over-him anthem that sets the tone for the disc.

There's the upbeat "What You Do," featuring Ne-Yo, and the high-stepping track "Mr. Right." And while both songs are of the radio-friendly variety, the Chrisette Michele whose voice and singing style drew comparisons to Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan is still very much present.

Michele sounds best when she digs deep, and sings slow. The mournful "I'm Okay," and heart-wrenching "Blame It On Me" are all about saying goodbye to painful relationships. Both songs prove that whether she is crooning about love or the loss of it, Michele still has her touch.
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[Edited 5/25/09 7:24am]

I love Chrisette! I'm going to have to go and get her new album.

Chrisette Michele Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200

May 13
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Chrisette Michele notches her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as her sophomore set "Epiphany" (Def Jam) debuts atop the list with 83,000. She edges out the seventh week of the "Hannah Montana: the Movie" soundtrack (No. 2 with 81,000) and the arrival of Ciara's third album "Fantasy Ride" (LaFace) at No. 3 with just under 81,000.

wow, that's great for her. I've heard about 3 or 4 songs from the new album and like them all so far. I hope she does well in this industry.

Heard it this weekend! I was at the local wrecka stowe and they were playing it on the loudspeakers. It prompted me to ask the store manager who it was. I was diggin' it. I bought something else but I'll have to go back and get it.

Who the phuk is this chick???? Yeeeeesh.

Nice! I definitely have to get her album

"blame it on me" cooks with much gas.

ernestsewell said:

I didn't know either until I heard her album the other day at the wrecka stowe. Now I love it. "Epihany", "What You Do", "Blame It On Me" and "I'm Okay" are the best songs to me...

ernestsewell said:

Every artist has to start somewhere and been given a fair chance. I guess that Prince wasn't welcomed that much either by a number of listeners, when he
first started, hence when he was booed from the stage as supporting act of Rick James. Fame or recognition can't be bought instantly at a supermarket.

*spell-edit*
[Edited 5/13/09 23:15pm]

Shango said:

Um.....ok. Doesn't really answer the question, but okie dokie.

^^Why don't you just look her up on Youtube to find out who she is; she has several videos and live performances on there. She's not a huge mainstream artist, so it's hard to say who she is without directing you to Youtube. Nice to see that her sophomore album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 without her having to resort to excessive media whoring and publicity stunts like some of them do. Her first album is really good, so I'm definitely going to have to get this one.

I also played the hell outta this song



Not hers, per se, but she's on it...

estelle81 said:

I know she's probably still getting over the shock of debuting on the Pop charts at #1. She really had such a smaller R&B cult following up until this point. Good to see she is finally hitting the mainstream.

Possibly Album of the year? Grammy?

I haven't enjoyed an album this much in a while. Not even Lotus Flow3r...

I liked a good handful of songs off the first album, I have to check this one out asap

CalhounSq said:

GET IT!!!!

She's better than Alice Smith, even!!!

She is still growing on me. Her style is so different.

Even better than her debut. I love her phrasing; she definitely cut her teeth on old-school jazz vocalists, but she can "squall" like a gospel songstress when she wants to. I hear Jennifer Holiday, Nancy Wilson, Ella, Stephanie Mills and some Clark Sisters in her stuff. Bless her heart!

I like this jam, "What you do" with Ne-yo

I liked her first album, and I've heard three cuts off of her new album and it sounds pretty good. Chrisette is a mixture of everything, were does she fit?
[Edited 6/4/09 14:19pm]
[Edited 6/4/09 15:10pm]

ernestsewell said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...RXU5_LHKd4