Hurricane (Eric Benét album)

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Hurricane is the third studio album by American R&B singer Eric Benét, released on June 21, 2005. Put out by Friday Records and distributed by Reprise Records, the album moves toward an adult-contemporary sound with gospel and jazz influences, featuring lush strings, layered vocals, and acoustic guitars.

Background
After Warner Bros. Records shelved his planned third album Better and Better due to creative differences, Benét signed with Friday Records (distributed by Reprise) and began work on Hurricane. Some songs from the shelved project later appeared on other releases. For example, I Wanna Be Loved and Pretty Baby ran on Hurricane, while Spanish Fly and Sing to Me showed up on his 2008 album Love & Life. The title track Better and Better was later re-recorded by Lalah Hathaway for Outrun the Sky, and some songs surfaced as iTunes bonus tracks on Lost in Time.

Recording
Recording took place at many studios in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Burbank, including the Hit Factory, Ocean Way, Chalice Studios, and Eastman Scoring Stage. Benét produced the project with a team of producers such as Walter Afanasieff, David Foster, Hod David, Demonté Posey, George Nash Jr., and others.

Composition
Hurricane blends gospel and jazz elements with an adult-contemporary approach. It features sweeping strings, robust vocal harmonies, and nimble guitar work. The album includes contributions from notable jazz players like Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti, and Viktor Krauss. Some critics compared its sound to Christopher Cross rather than R&B’s heavier styles, highlighting its melodic and mellow mood.

Reception
The album received mixed reviews. AllMusic noted that while the quiet-storm pieces are well performed, some tracks feel dull, though a few Prince-inspired numbers are engaging. Mojo gave it three out of five stars, calling it a palatable collection of self-penned songs. Vibe described it as an uneven mix of sentimentality, suggesting it may lull listeners more than energize them. The Washington Post praised the album’s themes of healing and redemption, highlighting Benét’s tenor on songs like In the End.

Track listing
- Be Myself Again
- Pretty Baby
- Hurricane
- Where Does the Love Go
- My Prayer
- Man Enough to Cry
- I Know
- India
- The Last Time
- In the End
- Making Love
- Cracks of My Broken Heart
- I Wanna Be Loved
- Still with You

Singles
- I Wanna Be Loved (May 10, 2005)
- Hurricane (2005)
- Pretty Baby (June 6, 2006)

Charts
- US Billboard 200: peaked at 133
- US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: peaked at 27

Release history
United States release: June 21, 2005
Formats: CD and digital download
Label: Friday Records, distributed by Reprise Records

Personnel
Eric Benét led the performances, with a large team of musicians and producers. Notable contributors include Walter Afanasieff, David Foster, Humberto Gatica, Demonté Posey, Chris Botti (trumpet), Roy Hargrove (horns), Nathan East (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Van Dyke Parks (arranger/conductor), and many others who helped shape the album’s rich, melodic sound.