Spend a day with Eric Benet (A Day In The Life - Eric Benet)

Member Name: Lakerfanster

Product:	A Day In The Life - Eric Benet
Date:	24/06/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Vocals, a couple of great tracks

Disadvantages: Too many weaker tracks

**Introduction**

After listening to Eric Benet's 2005 album Hurricane I thought I would have a look around for more of his material and found this album. The Wisconsin native has had his fair share of personal tragedies with the death of his Father through cancer coming just before the death of his girlfriend in a motor accident in April of 1993. He managed to get his life back together and released his debut album True to Myself in 1996. He was also married to Halle Berry between 2001 and 2005 before their marriage broke up.

**A day in the life**

This album was released in 1999 and is the second album released from Eric Benet. The album features collaborations from Faith Evans, Tamia, Roy Ayers and finally Me'Shell Ndegeocello. The album is his most successful to date and won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album by a Male Solo artist. Here is my track by track rundown of A Day in the life by Eric Benet.

1.) That's Just My Way

This is a funky mid tempo track which has some very catchy melodies and a nice guitar part which moves along in the background. This is a decent start to the album but there's far better to come.

2.) Georgie Porgie - Benet, Eric & Faith Evans

This track might ring a bell with you as it received a large amount of radio play when it was released and although not as big a hit as Spend my life with you was still a good hit. Faith Evans provides a good touch on her parts of the track. A decent enough track.

3.) Spend My Life With You - Benet, Eric & Tamia

This track opens with some soft strings and then the beat comes in with Benet's vocals. This is probably the most well known Eric Benet track so you might know this one. Female r&b vocalist Tamia does a decent job with her emotive vocals adding a nice touch alongside Benet's equally emotive vocals. This is a very good duet.

4.) Something Real

This is an uptempo track which shows a different side to Eric Benet's voice. It's not as good as his normal vocals but is not bad. Although this is not one of my favourites as It does not have that spark which the more uptempo tracks should have.

5.) Loving Your Best Friend

This is about when you fall in love with your partners best friend. It has a catchy uptempo feel but does not have the same impact as the best ballads on the album. Not a bad track but could be better.

6.) When You Think Of Me - Benet, Eric & Roy Ayers

This is a tender ballad featuring Roy Ayers. It has a Jazzy feel which goes well with both singers vocals. This reminds me a little of Kem who I have also reviewed on here. A good track with some great vocal harmonies. This shows his versatility again.

7.) Lamentation

This is another funky mid tempo track with some nice guitar licks. The strings in the background also add a nice touch as do the smooth backing vocals but these together don't automatically result in a great song here. decent but not great.

8.) Dust In The Wind

This opens with a tumble weed like sound and then the funky hip hop beat comes in. The smooth backing harmonies add a different touch with the different beat. In this track Eric Benet sounds slightly like Stevie Wonder. This is a very good uptempo track which shows he can do more than just emotive ballads.

9.) Why You Follow Me

This is another funky hip hop laden track which slightly differs from the previous track with the slightly Spanish feel of this track's melodies. This is a very flowing track that is one of the catchiest on the album, It's not quite up there with the best on the album but is still rather good.

10.) Come As You Are

No this isn't a cover of Nirvana's Come as you are but a beautiful Gospel infused track which slows down the album with lovely piano tones and the double bass in the background. This then develops when the beat comes in and this is one of the best tracks on the album. Just brilliant.

11.) Love The Hurt Way

This is a neo soul ballad which has elements of D'Angelo about it, I like the vocals both from Benet and the backing vocalists. Benet showcases his great falsetto skills to great effect here. A very good track that slowed down a little and with a lighter beat could have been a gem.

12.) Ghetto Girl - Benet, Eric & Me'Shell Ndegeocello

I had not heard of Me'Shell Ndegeocello before I heard this track so I did not know what to expect and thankfully she does a decent enough job on her vocal parts. It's not the best on the album but is a decent effort.

13.) Love Of My Own

This is a lovely ballad to close the album, It opens with gentle piano and then as the beat kicks in Benet's vocals come in. This track is about wanting someone to love yourself when you see other people happy together. It showcases his tender vocals and the smooth backing vocals add a nice touch. A very Good ending to the album.

**Overall**

There are a couple of really great tracks on the album but there are too many tracks which are just decent which means that I will rate this album four stars instead of five. He is one of the finest R&B talents when he is on form but he has too many sub-par moments for him to match his potential. Listen to his 2005 album Hurricane and you will get a better understanding on what he can really do when on form. I will be reviewing it just as soon as it has been put on the site.

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