What I’m Feelin’
Anthony Hamilton
(RCA Records)
Three-and-a-half stars
Soul singer Anthony Hamilton returns to (some of) his roots on What I'm Feelin.
The Grammy-winning singer reunited with his longtime producer Mark Batson and they pick up where they left off on well-crafted tracks, from the upbeat Save Me to the smooth Never Letting Go.
Hamilton’s distinctive Southern vocals are strong throughout this 12-track offering about his relationship mishaps and spiritual growth.
On the piano-driven Walk In My Shoes, Hamilton asks the listener to understand his perspective. He sings about nearly losing his mind after a regretful series of tribulations, from being arrested to parting ways with his wife last year (they had been married for 10 years).
On Amen, produced by Salaam Remi, Hamilton rejoices about cooking and new love. He also teams up with his backup group, the Hamiltones, on the throwback- sounding title track.
Much of the album maintains a soulful identity. But Hamilton strays away from the norm on the 1980s-pop melody Ever Seen Heaven, which shows that his vocals are capable of blending well with other sounds.
