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Hurricane is the third studio album by American R&B recording artist Eric Benét. It was released on June 21, 2005, on Friday Records, with distributing by Reprise Records.[5] It is the follow-up to his second album A Day in the Life (1999) and follows the shelving of his Better and Better project for Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at various recording studios, the album was written and produced by Benét with several other producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, David Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.

Hurricane
Studio album by Eric Benét
Released	June 21, 2005
Length	59:49
Label	Friday Reprise
Producer	Walter Afanasieff Eric Benét Michael Carney Hod David Drew and Shannon Andy Duncan David Foster Humberto Gatica George Nash, Jr. Demonté Posey
Eric Benét chronology
A Day in the Life (1999) Hurricane (2005) Love & Life (2008)
Singles from Hurricane
"I Wanna Be Loved" Released: May 10, 2005 "Hurricane" Released: 2005 "Pretty Baby" Released: June 6, 2006

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Mojo	[2]
Vibe	[3]
The Washington Post	(favorable)[4]

Background

In 2001, Benét was expected to release his third studio album Better and Better on Warner Bros. Records but the label rejected to release this album and forced him to stay in the R&B genre.[6][7] Due to the controversy about music style and creative freedom, Benét changed to Reprise-distributed label Friday Records and began recording his next album Hurricane.[6] Several songs from Better and Better reappeared on other studio albums by Benét: "I Wanna Be Loved" and "Pretty Baby" were released on Hurricane.[8] The songs "Spanish Fly" and "Sing to Me" would later appear on his 2008 album Love & Life.[9] The title track "Better & Better" would later be re-recorded by Lalah Hathaway for her 2004 album Outrun the Sky,[10] while "Better and Better" an "Trippin" would later be included as an iTunes bonus track on Benét's 2010 album Lost in Time.[11]

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording locations, including the Hit Factory in New York, New York, Bowery Digital, Chalice Studios, Ocean Way Recording, The Studio, Warner Bros. Sound Stage, and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, California, Chartmaker Studios, Drew's Groove Studios, Panic Room, and Soundstage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Jade Studios and Jupiter Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, and Eastman Scoring Stage in Burbank, California.[2] Production was handled by Benét and several other record producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, Dave Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.[12]

Composition

Hurricane incorporates musical elements of gospel and contributions from jazz musicians Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti, and Viktor Krauss.[4] A departure from the jazzy, groove-based urban sound of Benét's previous work, the album features an adult contemporary radio format style, with sweeping strings, layered vocals, and nimble acoustic guitars.[13] According to Rashod D. Ollison of The Washington Post, "Hurricane is lush in spots, the overall sound more in the adult contemporary vein. More Christopher Cross, less R. Kelly".[13]

Reception

Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave it three-and-a-half out of four stars and commented that "The quiet storm is well performed but dull, yet the Prince-styled numbers are engaging, melodic, and nimble, strong showcases for Benet's mellow skills".[1] Mojo gave the album three out of five stars and called it "a very palatable collection of self-penned confessional songs".[2] Laura Checkoway of Vibe called it "an uneven mix of simplistic sentimentality", stating "Reflective and repentant at times, Hurricane is more likely to sing you to sleep than knock you off your feet".[3] The Washington Post commented favorably on the album's themes of "healing and redemption", and stated "The spiritual tone often brings out the best in [Eric Benet]'s supple tenor on 'In The End' and other tracks".[4]

Track listing

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes co-producer

Personnel

Credits for Hurricane adapted from Allmusic.[12]

Performers and musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[14]	133
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15]	27

Release history

Hurricane release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref(s)
United States	June 21, 2005	CD digital download	Friday	[5]

References

External links

• Official website
• Hurricane at Discogs

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