Epiphany (Chrisette Michele album)
Encyclopedia
Epiphany is the second studio album
by American R&B
and soul
singer–songwriter Chrisette Michele
, released May 5, 2009 on Def Jam Recordings
in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2008 to 2009. In January 2009, the title track "Epiphany
" was released as its lead single.
Epiphany debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200
chart, while selling 83,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 71/100 from Metacritic
.
s Mariel Concepcion that her new album would be "more upbeat and youthful". Production for the album was handled by Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Bei Maejor
, and Ne-Yo
.
Michele says one of her favorite tracks is the piano
-based "Blame It on Me
", in which she croons, "Blame it on me/Say it's my fault/Say I left you out in the cold with a broken heart/I really don't care/I'm not crying no more/Say I'm a liar, a cheater, say anything that you want/As long as it's over." "On My Own", Michele says, reminds her of her father. "I'm very close to my dad, but recently I've learned how to handle situations on my own, without having him step in for me, and it took a lot of me to be able to do that", she admits.
with first-week sales of 83,000 units, giving Michele her first number 1 album on the chart. As of 2010 the album has sold over 462,000 copies in the US.
, critic Robert Christgau
gave Epiphany a rating of honorable mention , indicating "a worthy effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well like".
Despite noting its production as a weakness, Miami Herald writer Adrian Ruhi gave the album 3 out of 4 stars and commended Michele for her vocals. In a positive review, The Koalition said that "it would seem almost impossible for Chrisette Michele to avoid the "sophomore slump
", but she finds a way by simply catering to an age old rule: just create great pieces of music." In some reviews her voice has been compared to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald
. Giving the album four out of five stars, Timothy Michael Carson of About.com
favored her unique, distinctive strong vocals, her cohesiveness, and the song "Blame It on Me", but was disappointed in the fact it had less of a jazz
influence than her debut album I Am
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer–songwriter Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele Payne , known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter....
, released May 5, 2009 on Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2008 to 2009. In January 2009, the title track "Epiphany
Epiphany (Chrisette Michele song)
"Epiphany" is the first single from American soul-R&B singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele's second studio album of the same name, released for airplay on January 27, 2009. It was a R&B top 20 hit and became her most successful single to date...
" was released as its lead single.
Epiphany debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, while selling 83,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 71/100 from Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.
Background
Chrisette Michele told BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Mariel Concepcion that her new album would be "more upbeat and youthful". Production for the album was handled by Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Bei Maejor
Bei Maejor
Brandon Green, better known by his stage name Bei Maejor, is a Grammy nominated American recording artist, songwriter and record producer.- Life and career :...
, and Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
.
Michele says one of her favorite tracks is the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
-based "Blame It on Me
Blame It on Me (Chrisette Michele song)
"Blame It on Me" is the second single from American soul–R&B singer–songwriter Chrisette Michele's second studio album, Epiphany. It was released to radio on May 12, 2009...
", in which she croons, "Blame it on me/Say it's my fault/Say I left you out in the cold with a broken heart/I really don't care/I'm not crying no more/Say I'm a liar, a cheater, say anything that you want/As long as it's over." "On My Own", Michele says, reminds her of her father. "I'm very close to my dad, but recently I've learned how to handle situations on my own, without having him step in for me, and it took a lot of me to be able to do that", she admits.
Reception
Commercial performance
Epiphany debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
with first-week sales of 83,000 units, giving Michele her first number 1 album on the chart. As of 2010 the album has sold over 462,000 copies in the US.
Critical response
Critical response to the album was generally positive. Allmusic's Andy Kellman wrote that "the material, while mostly well-crafted, runs together as a block of slow, serious songs broken up by only a couple brief upswings in energy" and how "Chrisette, naturally, sounds outstanding throughout, as a supernaturally talented vocalist whose songs are nonetheless easily relatable to anyone going through a breakup—or, to a significantly lesser extent here, newfound love." He also felt that the album "could have really used more rhythmic punch than a token throwback strutter." Maiya Norton of Vibe commented on how her album gained some edge, expressing some anger and heartbreak. In his consumer guide for MSN MusicMSN Music
MSN Music was a part of the MSN web services. It delivered music news, music videos, spotlights on new music, artist information, and live performances of artists. In 2004, Microsoft created an MSN Music download store to compete with Apple's iTunes Music Store, though its sales in comparison were...
, critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave Epiphany a rating of honorable mention , indicating "a worthy effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well like".
Despite noting its production as a weakness, Miami Herald writer Adrian Ruhi gave the album 3 out of 4 stars and commended Michele for her vocals. In a positive review, The Koalition said that "it would seem almost impossible for Chrisette Michele to avoid the "sophomore slump
Sophomore slump
A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx refers to an instance in which a second, or sophomore, effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort...
", but she finds a way by simply catering to an age old rule: just create great pieces of music." In some reviews her voice has been compared to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
. Giving the album four out of five stars, Timothy Michael Carson of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
favored her unique, distinctive strong vocals, her cohesiveness, and the song "Blame It on Me", but was disappointed in the fact it had less of a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influence than her debut album I Am
I Am (Chrisette Michele album)
I Am is the debut album by American R&B-soul singer–songwriter Chrisette Michele, released in the United States on June 19, 2007 by Def Jam Recordings.-Production:...
.
Track listing
- "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)Epiphany (Chrisette Michele song)"Epiphany" is the first single from American soul-R&B singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele's second studio album of the same name, released for airplay on January 27, 2009. It was a R&B top 20 hit and became her most successful single to date...
" (Shaffer SmithNe-YoShaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, Chuck Harmony) – 3:28 - "Notebook" (Harmony, Claude Kelly) – 3:46
- "What You Do" (feat. Ne-Yo) (Smith, Harmony) – 3:22
- "Blame It on MeBlame It on Me (Chrisette Michele song)"Blame It on Me" is the second single from American soul–R&B singer–songwriter Chrisette Michele's second studio album, Epiphany. It was released to radio on May 12, 2009...
" (Chrisette Payne, Harmony, Kelly) – 4:09 - "All I Ever Think About" (Allen Gordon, Jr., Jayms Madison, Joel Campbell, Teron BealTeron BealTeron Beal is an American singer/songwriter born in Tyler, Texas. He has also written songs for Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, P!nk, Kelly Rowland, Chrisette Michele, Robyn, Jaheim and others....
) – 3:40 - "Playin' Our Song" (Rodney JerkinsRodney JerkinsRodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
, Kelly) – 3:33 - "Another One" (Smith, Harmony) – 3:39
- "On My Own" (Smith, Bei MaejorBei MaejorBrandon Green, better known by his stage name Bei Maejor, is a Grammy nominated American recording artist, songwriter and record producer.- Life and career :...
, Tim Bullock) – 3:47 - "Fragile" (Payne, Harmony, Kelly) – 4:15
- "Mr. Right" (Payne, Harmony, Kelly) – 4:22
- "Porcelain Doll" (Smith, Harmony) – 3:45
- "I'm Okay" (Smith, Harmony) – 4:17
Musicians
- Chrisette Michele – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
; backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(track 5) - Jesse Bond – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(tracks 4, 9, 12) - Chuck Harmony – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(tracks 4, 12); guitar (track 2) - Claude Kelly – backing vocals (tracks 2, 4, 6, 9, 10)
- J. Michel – backing vocals (track 5)
- Calvin Palmer – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(track 4) - Brent PaschkeSpymobSpymob is a pop rock band, from Minneapolis best known for their appearance on the 2003 Star Trak Entertainment compilation The Neptunes present Clones, with the song "Half Steering Half Eating Ice Cream." They also provided backing instruments for N.E.R.D.'s 2002 debut In Search Of......
– guitar (track 6)
Production
- Allstar – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
(track 5) - June Ambrose – stylistFashion designFashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
- Ashaunna Ayars – marketingMarketingMarketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
- A.J. Benson – A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
- Alan Branch – marketing
- Keith Campbell – hair stylistBarberA barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
- Carol Corless – package production
- DarkchildRodney JerkinsRodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
– producer (track 6) - Kevin "KD" Davis – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
(tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) - Mildred Delamota – art directionArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
- Mike "Handz" Donaldson – engineer (track 6)
- Bojan Dugich – engineer (track 10)
- Doug "Biggs" Ellison – executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Stephen Ferrera – A&R
- Moses Gallart – assistant engineer (tracks 1, 3, 11)
- Anthony "Rocky" Gallo – engineer (track 10); vocal tracking
- Tom Gardner – assistant engineer
- Eshy Gazit – vocal tracking
- Serban GheneaSerban GheneaSerban Ghenea is a four-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award-winning mixer. He has mixed songs for such artists as Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Jewel, Santana, Ozomatli, Shakira, Jill Scott, R. Kelly, Rod Stewart, and Dave Matthews Band...
– mixing - John Hanes – mixing
- Chuck Harmony – producer (tracks 1–4, 7, 9–12)
- Mike "Track Guru" Johnson – assistant engineer (tracks 2, 4, 7–9, 12)
- Doug Joswick – package production
- Claude Kelly – vocal producer
- Bei Maejor – producer (track 8)
- Ne-YoNe-YoShaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
– co-producer (tracks 1, 3, 7, 8); executive producer - Herb Powers, Jr. – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Geno Regist – engineer (tracks 1–4, 7–9, 11, 12)
- Jeff Riedel – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Tim Roberts – assistant
- Mark Siegel - booking agent
- Noah Tafua – mixing assistant
- Kris Yiengst – art coordinator, photo coordination
Chart positions
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 |
Chart procession and succession
External links
- Epiphany at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...