Review: Chrisette Michele-Milestone

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Chrisette Michele © Deejay/Flickr

Milestone

Chrisette Michele is back after a three-year absence with Milestone. In the time between her current album and 2013’s Better, there have been a lot of changes for Chrisette.  She departed from Motown Records, and formed her own imprint, Rich Hipster (via Caroline/Capital Records).  She is also set to marry her fiancé and former manager, Doug “Biggs” Ellison.  Coincidentally, Doug not only executive produced Milestone, but as you might expect, is also the inspiration for many of the songs.

The Sound

One of the first things that a listener might notice about this new album is that Chrisette, is venturing away from her usual R&B format to embrace other genres.  On this latest effort she opens with a few trap records like “Diamond Letter” and “Steady.”  “Unbreakable” is really poppy.  And “To the Moon” gives a synthy trip-hop sound.

We get to see the R&B style that we know and love her for in “Meant to Be” which leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.  Whereas “Soulmate” almost brings you to tears when Chrisette sings about how deeply she yearns for her soulmate.

This album has been criticized by some for being stylistically unfocused.  However, I think Chrisette’s goal was to show us what she could do if left to her own devices.  She is venturing out on her own for the first time since starting her career.  She’s proven through this record that she her voice leant to any genre sounds amazing.

Favorite Songs: “Equal” and “Soulmate.”

Score: 4 of 5 stars

Milestone released July 10, 2016.