This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at 10:25 pm and is filed under Album Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Eric Benet: Love and Life
by Leigh Silbernagel in Album Reviews
Love & Life brings back positive sounding, meaningful, well-written, quality R&B songs.
The Winner of “Best R&B/Soul Album Male” Soul Train Music Award A Day In The Life (2000); has reneged the down-and-out tragic sound of his previous endeavors to deliver a light and soulful album: a celebration of romance, love, and the joys of living through modern R&B stylings, mild rhythmic syncopation, and acoustic rhythm piano. Natural and genuine sounding music is his forte, from laid back grooves of the opening “Love Patience Time” to the heartfelt revelation in “The Hunger.” Working with producers Demonte Posey, George Nash, Jr. and Tim Blixeseth created an optimistic body of work reminiscent of classic R&B with subtle gospel and jazz influences: “I’m in a good place in my life and it’s all reflected in these songs,” stated Benét. Tell tale sign he is in a good place: “You’re the only one” went number one on urban adult contemporary radio the first week the album was released. Featuring two collaborations: Duet with Terry Dexter and another with Linda Kiraly (the Dexter one is better), the album is satisfactory. Finally, the most impressive, emotionally charged, and moving track was Sing to me. With its mid-tempo, positive sound, and acoustic guitar paired against lyrics like, “sing to me, without music or words/ When I look into your eyes, I hear a song that never dies.” This was the most inspiring track. The bridge is expertly crafted for a song that is perfect. Stylistically, lyrics are sweet without being cliché or over the top and the instrumentation is striking. Eric Benét’s Love & Life brings back positive sounding, meaningful, well-written, quality R&B songs.
-leigh silbernagel
20 Responses to “Eric Benet: Love and Life”
Leave a Reply
September 18th, 2008 at 5:34 am
This review is a positive one. I am a BIG fan of Eric Benet, so I agree with most of what you’ve said.
I’ve loved “Sing to Me” for years.Eric put it on this c.d. because his fans requested it all the time. It’s an ode to his 16 year old daughter India, who sings background on “Still I Believe”.
What I don’t understand is how you can talk about Eric Benet’s “Love and Life” and not even mention “Chocolate Legs”, which Eric describes as a soul-healing measure for men who feel beaten down by the world as it is today. It’s almost a form of “sexual healing”(my words, not his).
Plus, you didn’t say anything about “Spanish Fly”, Eric’s latin-flavored offering help to a fictional woman who has lost the desire for ***. That is also a fan favorite. We would requeste it at all his shows, but he didn’t really perform it until he began this c.d.
Also, you didn’t even mention “One More Tomorrow”, another song for India. He wrote that the day she was born and is just now recording it.
I think if you keep listening to “Love and Life”, you will begin to appreciate even more of the songs on it. If you would like more information about Eric Benet, please visit the web sites below:
http://www.TrueEBFans.com
http://www.EricBenet.net
http://www.Myspace.com/ebenetloveandlife
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
great voice… cant wait to get his album
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
The cd i can honestly say that i can listen through without skipping atrack
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
His video for hunger is hot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGu2bjEOhUM
September 24th, 2008 at 2:12 am
The CD is great! Love Eric Benet!
October 7th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
the video is pretty cool he was talking about it on think on his kyte video if anybody wanted the link
http://www.kyte.tv/ch/113570-eric-benet
October 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Ya’ll need to check out his Kyte videos. This one I really like….http://www.kyte.tv/ch/113570-eric-benet
October 8th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
i play this one for the ladies
October 8th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
He looks so **** in those Kyte videos. I’m like addicted to them. When does the next one come out?
October 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
i hope a new kyte video is out soon! Can someone post it here if they find it? Thanks!
October 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
i know the kyte videos are like so good. ive watched like everyone http://www.kyte.tv/ch/113570-eric-benet
October 9th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
They come out on a weekly basis but I dunno what day. You’re just going to have to stalk his myspace page.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
just saw eric on tour with dwele!!! OMG i have to see another one, his vocals are so great live. dont pass up the chance to see them
October 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I will do that!
October 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
this album is really good, but live its even better!
October 13th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I heard Eric Benet will be having a contest soon! http://www.myspace.com/ericbenet
October 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Here the one from this week http://www.kyte.tv/channels/browse.html?id=113570&mode=LATEST
October 14th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I just watched the live kyte vid. Seems like they have a lot of fun on that tour bus!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
yeah those kyte vids are amazing!! such a good voice live!!!!
October 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
EB is so amazing!! love those kyte videos and the ones on his myspace!!