Better is the fourth studio album by American R&B singer Chrisette Michele. The album was released on June 11, 2013. The album features guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Wale, Bilal, Dunson and Nello Luchi.
Critical reception
AllMusic editor praised Better as a confident and emotionally uplifting album inspired by personal growth and recovery. He highlighted her expressive vocals, improved artistic freedom, and standout tracks such as "A Couple of Forevers," "Let Me Win," and "Charades," calling the album a showcase for her natural dynamism and positivity. Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe commended the album's "commanding vocals" and "savvy song sense," noting its themes of self-realization and love while praising Michele's performances across its soul ballads and mid-tempo tracks. He criticized 2 Chainz's guest appearance on "Charades" as a misstep.
Billboards Gail Mitchell praised Better for showcasing Michele's "compelling voice," calling it a strong set filled with standout tracks and effective collaborations. She highlighted her "supple, emotive vocals" on songs such as "Love Won't Leave Me Out" and "Visual Love," noting the album's consistent vocal strengths. Spin gave the album a 6/10 rating, noting that Michele’s blend of Ella Fitzgerald's "girlish insouciance" and Billie Holiday's "shapely vowels" was particularly effective on Ne-Yo's compositions. Rated R&B viewed Better as a return to Michele's adult contemporary R&B roots, praising its emotional depth, soulful performances, and vocal strengths.
Commercial performance In the United States, the album debuted at number twelve on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with around 27,000 copies sold in the first week. It marked Michele's highest-charting album since Epiphany (2009). By May 2016, it had sold 133,000 copies in the United States.
Track listing
Sample credits "A Couple of Forevers" contains samples of "Stairway to Heaven" as performed by The O'Jays. "Let Me Win" contains a sample of "Ashley's Roachclip" as performed by The Soul Searchers.
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for BetterChart (2013)Peakposition
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for BetterChart (2013)PositionUS Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)58
References