Having been a big fan of this man since day one and having got my hands on DAT’s of the tracks “Better & Better” and “Closer” in the past twelve months I had a big smile on my face when this hit the mat. First thing I noticed was neither of these tracks made the album and knowing how stunning they are I thought this must be some album. The smile quickly turned to a thrown as I started listening to the album.

A man that had been as instrumental in the neo, street or urban soul or whatever you want to call it scene as D’Angelo’ Angie Stone, Maxwell, John Legend etc etc has for the want of a better word sold out or should it be souled out. The majority of this album is made for MOR America, in places, the lead single “Hurricane” in particular sounds more like a Christopher Cross track than an Eric Benet cut. For sure there is the odd cuts that gives you that kinda there is hope feeling. Tracks like “Where Does The Love Go” is an Eric Benet classic, the kind of classy, quality, street soul you would expect from the man. In the leagues of “Why You Follow Me”. The funky head nodder “I Know” and the melodic “Making Love” also gives you another glimpse of what we love about this man. “I Wanna Be Loved” sends a shiver down the spine such is the quality of this breathtaking soul track. Sadly these tracks amount to less than a quarter of the album. This may well be Eric’s biggest album to date because of its MOR approach, but did a man this talented need to sell out this much, I don’t think so.

2/5 For The Album 4/5 For The Killers

BIGGER