Something About Faith

Recording information: Big H Studio, Baltimore, MD; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; DML Recording Studios, East Orange, NJ; Hampton Studios, NJ; Homeskool Studio, New York, NY; Instrument Zoo, Miami, FL; Jasic Studio, Van Nuys, CA; KayTwo Studios, East Orange, NJ; Mad City Studios, CA; Serenity Sound, Hollywood, CA; SLS Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Studio 4, Conshahoken, PA; The Circle Studios, Hatboro, PA; The Hit Studio, Derwood, MD; The Ranch Studios, New York, NY; Triad Studio, Venice, CA; Wyeth Studios Marlton, NJ.
Photographer: Derek Blanks.
The First Lady was one of Faith Evans' strongest albums, not just creatively but commercially. It topped Billboard's R&B Albums chart, came within one spot of topping the Billboard 200, and won Evans a Soul Train award for best female R&B/soul album. It was her lone release for Capitol, and this, her fifth proper studio album, is her first for the independent E One label. Several past collaborators, including Chucky Thompson, Brad Todd, and Carvin & Ivan, are on-board, as are Mike City and Salaam Remi. The standouts include the disco throwback "Party," the Toni Braxton-worthy breakup ballad (albeit with heavier bottom) "Gone Already," and the midtempo boogie track "Sunshine" (which carries a subtle, smooth groove touch resembling that of Michael Wycoff's "Looking Up to You"). ~ Andy Kellman