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39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Getting Through the "Hurricane.", July 8, 2005
Eric Benet has named his new album "Hurricane," and who would be surprised at his choice of a title? The artist formerly known as Mr. Halle Berry has indeed weathered a storm of his own, surviving a very public and possibly even humiliating divorce from the Hollywood beauty. The pain of that breakup can be heard and felt on a few tracks on the album, while a few upbeat love jams surface. Like his last 2 records, "Hurricane" is grown up soul for grown up folks. The biggest surprise is that quite a few of the successful tracks are produced by Walter Afanaseiff, who produced some of the sappiest ballads of Mariah Carey's early career. Looks like Afanaseiff was able to finally put some spice in his production, which is needed when dealing with a singer as gifted as Benet. "My Prayer" and "Still With You" (both helmed by said producer) are soaring big ballads that stand out well, while "Man Enough to Cry" and "Cracks of My Broken Heart" are Benet as his most expressive and emotional. For a while, it became unclear if Benet would ever return with a new album, but he's come back strong with "Hurricane." But to date, sales can best be described as anemic. After peaking at No. 133 on Billboard, it completelty fell off the album chart. What a shame. It's a solid CD that should get a second chance.
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
As Powerful As Ivan, Hugo, and Andrew!, August 5, 2005
A lot of you may be shocked by the rating this album is receiving. There are a couple of reasons why you might be feeling this way. One of the main reasons might be the notion that you are judging this man by what has happened outside of his musical career. But like a lot of artists of the past, some of the best music ever created was when they were in a time of desperation, heartbreak, or even self-reflection (i.e. Mary J. Blige's My Life or Gerald Levert's Love and Consequences) Eric Benet embodies these emotions and more on his latest disc Hurricane.
The first track "Be Myself Again" is more of an extended intro rather than a song, but it sets the tone for the rest of the album and basically points out the faults and true emotions all of us possess. "Hurricane" gives the raw emotion of begging for the perfect storm to come sweep through and rid yourself of all your problems and heartache. "My Prayer" is exactly what it sounds like: a plea to take him back and a promise to be a better person and companion. "Man Enough To Cry," "Where Does The Love Go," and "Cracks of My Broken Heart" are all along those same lines of pouring out the sadness and pain Eric has encountered.
Thankfully, the albums isn't all about misfortune and sorrow. "India" is his personal tribute to his daughter of the same name, and "I Know" is his way of confirming that people can change and become a better person in the face of adversity. "Pretty Baby" talks about the women who are have the looks but not the self-respect for themselves or the knowledge of why she can't find the right man. "In The End" is a personal favorite because it is a song about letting you know that everything is gonna be alright with the encouragement of friends and faith in God.
There are times where Eric falls flat (the cabaret-sounding "The Last Time" doesn't fit with the rest of the album and "I Wanna Be Loved" sounds too dejected). But if you like Eric's first two albums True To Myself and A Day In The Life, Hurricane will not be a disappointment. So buy this album if you're not caught up in the thought that artists are people with real emotions and shortcomings too.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eric Benét is back y'all. , July 17, 2005
Eric Benét is back y'all. His much publicized problems and divorce from ex-wife, The Halle Berry, hasn't hurt his talent at all. Benét is known for songs such as "Femininity", produced by St. Louis's own Osunlade, as well as "Georgy Porgy", "Spend My Life With You" and others, but Hurricane could be Benét's best work yet apart from his album A Day In The Life. Hurricane is so beautifully written and produced that it would be a travesty if it were not nominated for a granddaddy of all music awards - a Grammy.
Producers include David Foster (Whitney Houston ("I Will Always Love You"), Natalie Cole ("Unforgettable"), Toni Braxton's ("Unbreak My Heart"); and Humberto Gatica, who is a hit maker in the Latino music community. They (co)produced five songs on the fourteen song album. Foster and Gatica co-produced Benét's song, "The Last Time", which is co-written by Benét.
Sounding like R&B singer/songwriter Babyface on the piano-driven song "The Last Time", he is very pleasant. It speaks of a man falling in love for the last time. In it he says, "I'm wise enough to know when a miracle unfolds, this is the last time I'll fall in love". You can literally close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in Harlem's Cotton Club in the 1920's. Elegantly produced.
Benét's "Cracks of My Broken Heart", produced by Walter Afanasieff, seems to have been written as an apology and/or plea to The Halle Berry. The song is beautiful. In it he says, "We need time to mend from the mistakes I've made, only God knows what the heart can survive, so many tears from all the pain in your life". "We can find what was lost before it slips away" and "If you want to be free, I'll never stand in your way. But with all that I am, I'm asking you to stay". "I still believe my life is here with you, so hold on and it won't take long, I hope you can love me when the pain is gone, don't want us to fall through the cracks of your (my) broken heart". Benét sings the song with much passion. You can feel his sincerity.
Ironically, "Cracks of My Broken Heart" is followed by Benét's "I Wanna Be Loved". It is classic R&B and is laced with sensations of black gospel. He teamed up with producer Demonte Posey. The harmonies, mixed with his falsetto smoothness, are reminiscent of old-school R&B group DeBarge. Good stuff.
Although Benét's production covers jazz, slow to mid tempo R&B, ballad pop, and folksy music it blends so seamlessly the listener isn't overwhelmed by the different sounds of the album. Total equilibrium. It is evident careful attention was paid to song placement. Don't sleep on this album. Lyrically and musically from beginning to end is great. No matter how you felt about Eric Benét, you'll come to like him all over again - and then some - after hearing this album.
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by Eric Benét 
