Eric Benet - True to Myself

Like Luther Vandross, Eric Benet (pronounced beh-NAY) is an old-fashioned, romantic soul singer in the vein of Stevie Wonder and Al Green; Benet even includes a sample of Green's "Love and Happiness" in his own song, "More Than Just a Girlfriend." Unlike Vandross, however, Benet has also absorbed the funk-rock moves of Sly Stone, George Clinton and Prince, a connection emphasized by Benet's remake of Stone's, "If You Want Me To Stay." Many have tried, but few have combined these styles as effectively as Benet does on his debut solo album. Benet's tenor purrs with seductive soulfulness, but those vocals are surrounded by rocking wah-wah guitars, beeping synthesizers and funky, on-the-one drum patterns. --Geoffrey Himes Amazon.com

classic

i remember listening to this everyday when it first came out. i have all of his albums and this one is my favorite. i love his voice! July 31, 2008

The richness of his voice leaves you in ecstacy...

Eric Benet has me entranced by his indescribable talent. He is pure soul! His voice is rugged yet smooth... edgy yet creamy... delivering a solid performance that enraptures your listening experience. May 16, 2008

True To The Love Of Self

Eric Benet's first debut showed us that he can combine the elements of funk, soul and seduction to lure us into his web of sensuality. Femininity is a sex purry kitten seductive vibe that sets the tone for this masterpiece. True To Myself is the beginning of funk for Eric's sexy tenor. I'll Be There is the follow to more sexy funk. Eric mostly is the king of sexy funk.
Can We Stay Together remix is the ultimate bomb. The rest of the cd is not much to be desired but it's passable.
Grade: B- June 6, 2006

Femininity...Guaranteed Female Self-Esteem Booster or I'll PERSONALLY Refund Your Money

The Ten Commandments remain revered by me when I seriously say, "Oh, My GOD!" This is one of the best songs ever made, this Fem In In Ity. Check it :

I like the way you take control of me

You have a little certain quality

Not many girls would ever dare to be

The lady that you are ...femininity

Oh, but the music! The piano riff at the start followed by Eric's melodic, crisp and fresh moans just gets me goin' like the morning sun, warm and new. Of course there is so much more to love. The man is so very talented. Halle Berry Benet had more happy days than sad I'm sure. Eric has a witty laid back sense of humor and an earthly passion like a country garden in the south. He's the bomb. The autobiographical, remorseful homage to Eric's deceased Baby's Mom (While You Where Here) will have you heaving a bucket of tears (she was killed in an automobile accident during a snowstorm one longago April) but feeling Eric's cleansed healing by the end. This man is just so cool and you feel him, fall in love with him, feen for him and forgive him as he stays true to his extremely talented self on this slamming album.
Listening to True To Myself is like taking a drive down to a true coffehouse jazz joint and tapping into the aura of an unsigned hunk on the guitar/piano/mike and swooning into the hot mellow funk.
Disclaimer: Virgins needn't apply for the refund. Don't ask - no harm, no foul. Get back with me when you're grown and sexy.
October 22, 2005

Retro review

I've been waiting for an opportunity to post this review of Eric Benet's first album since it was first released in 1996. At the time I worked for a national record store chain and was doing everything I could to promote his album, including buying my own copy when I could have gotten a free promotional copy from the label rep and letting everyone know it.

"Eric Benet is one of the most exciting young singer/songwriters to come along since Brian McKnight burst on the R&B music scene in 1992. His songwriting is prolific, mature, and socially conscious without being sappy or overly sentimental. Benet wrote or co-wrote all but one of the tracks on his debut album, and his vocal delivery in each song is moving and convincing. From the funky opening groove of the title track, to the beautiful orchestration of "While You Were Here", a bittersweet, tearjerking ballad (dedicated to the memory of his daughter India's mother who died tragically in a car accident), Benet manages to capture the heart, mind and soul of the listener for the duration of this album.

The musicianship of his album personnel is often reminiscent of superband Mint Condition, and serves to enhance Benet's powerful vocals. The evidence of the influence of Stevie Wonder's vocal and arranging styles come through on this album, too, but not often enought to limit Benet from carving out his own niche in the R&B world. If this isn't this young artist's best work, then he and his fans are in for a long, enjoyable career."

Recommended tracks:
While You Were Here
Let's Stay Together
Femininity
Spiritual Thang
I'll Be There


I had the pleasure of meeting Eric Benet at a live performance/autograph signing at a local club called "The Warehouse" in Detroit, MI, when "True to Myself" was first released. Benet struck me as a very down to earth individual who was a very humble and talented artist. Of course, all this was prior to his very public courtship and marriage to Halle Berry and their subsequent break up. Even though the circumstances surrounding his split with Ms. Berry may have left some of his previous admirers questioning his character as an individual, his talent as an artist has not diminished and TRUE fans of his music will stick by him because his talent is undeniable. I have yet to purchase his latest album, "Hurricane", but I will be buying my copy soon! I love what I've heard of it and if the title track is any indication, Benet's fans have gotten another great set out of an accomplished artist whose musical growth has been borne out of his life experiences.

August 20, 2005

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