Personnel include: Eric Benet (vocals, bass instrument, percussion); Hod David, Randall Bowland, Jeff Lee Johnson (guitar); Chris Botti (trumpet); Demonte Posey (organ, keyboards); David Foster , James Poyser (keyboards); Pino Palladino (bass instrument); Brian Frasier Moore, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums).
Recording information: Jade Studios, New York, NY; The Hit Factory, New York, New York.
In the six years that passed after the release of 1999's A DAY IN THE LIFE, Eric Benet's very public marriage and painful breakup with Halle Berry ended up overshadowing the Milwaukee native's skills as a talented, soulful singer-songwriter. Not surprisingly, HURRICANE uses Benet's recent turmoil to fuel songs touching on the crooner's dark and troubled times. But rather than go down the more accusatory path of musical retribution (as the late Marvin Gaye did on 1978's HERE MY DEAR), Benet looks inward throughout these 14 cuts.
The tone is immediately set with the stripped-down, gospel-flavored opener "Be Myself Again," with its message of inner renewal, and producer Hod David's acoustic-guitar accompaniment adding a very Bill Withers-esque vibe to the proceedings. From here, Benet seeks redemption (the lush "My Prayer"), reveals his vulnerable side (a serene "Man Enough to Cry"), and yearns for love (slow jam "I Wanna Be Loved"). Most impressive is the ethereal "India," a song for the singer's daughter that tells of her inspiration amid dreamy pedal steel, deftly plucked acoustic guitar, and a muted Chris Botti trumpet solo.

Mojo (Publisher) (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]his is a very palatable collection of self-penned confessional songs..."