Love Me Back

Love Me Back
Studio album by Jazmine Sullivan
Released November 29, 2010 (2010-11-29)
(See release history)
Recorded 2009–2010
Various recording locations
Genre R&B, soul, pop
Length 40:12
Label J, Arista
Producer Anthony Bell, Missy Elliott, Toby Gad, Chuck Harmony, Cainon Lamb, Los da Mystro, Ne-Yo, No I.D., Prolyfic, Salaam Remi
Jazmine Sullivan chronology
Fearless
(2008)		 Love Me Back
(2010)
Singles from Love Me Back
  1. "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)"
    Released: July 10, 2010
  2. "10 Seconds"
    Released: October 15, 2010

Love Me Back is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist Jazmine Sullivan, released November 29, 2010, on J Records. Production for the album took place at various recording studios during 2009 to 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including Missy Elliott, Ne-Yo, No I.D., Los da Mystro, Salaam Remi, and Anthony Bell, among others.

The album debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 57,000 copies in its first week. It produced two singles that attained moderate chart success, including "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)" and "10 Seconds". Upon its release, Love Me Back received general acclaim from music critics, who praised its songwriting, Sullivan's singing, and her performance.

Contents

Background

The album is the follow-up to Sullivan's debut album Fearless (2008), which was well-received by music critics, sold 517,000 copies, and earned Sullivan seven Grammy Award nominations.[1] Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording locations, including Carrington House Studios, Goldmind Studios, and Lostas Studi in Atlanta, Georgia, CNSO Recording Studio in Czech Republic, Cutting Room Studios, Germano Studios, KMA Studios, and MSR Studios in New York, New York, Instrument Zoo in Miami, Florida, Metropolis Studios in London, Waya Flow Studios and Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, California, Strawberrybee Studios in California, and The Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]

Release and promotion

Love Me Back was initially scheduled for release on September 28, 2010.[3] It was released by J Records on November 29 in the United Kingdom,[4] November 30 in the United States,[5] and December 8, 2010 in Japan.[6] Prior to its release, Sullivan accompanied R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige on the latter's Music Saved My Life concert tour during October 2010.[7][8] The album's cover was premiered on September 21, 2010 and features Sullivan dressed in all black, leaning against a vintage model Chevy Impala, a reference to her hit single "Bust Your Windows".[9]

Singles

"Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)" was released July 10, 2010 as the album's lead single.[10] It had leaked to the Internet on June 29, 2010.[11] Unofficial remixes of the song by rappers Fat Joe and Lloyd Banks followed its release as a single in July.[3] An official remix featuring Mary J. Blige was released on August 31, 2010.[12] "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)" features samples of several songs, including "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, "Be Happy (Remix)" by Mary J. Blige featuring Keith Murray, "Top Billin' " by Audio Two, "I Can" and "Affirmative Action" by Nas featuring AZ, Nature, and Foxy Brown, "Let Me Clear My Throat" and "20 Minute Workout" by DJ Kool, and "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz" by Biz Markie.[13] The single debuted at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100,[14] ultimately peaking at number 60,[15] and at number three on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[16] It spent nine weeks on the Hot 100 and 16 weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[15][16] A music video for the single premiered August 30, 2010 on BET's 106 & Park program.[17] Directed by Marcus Raboy, the video features references to 1980s hip hop culture and house parties, with cameos by hip hop artists Missy Elliot, Doug E. Fresh, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, Pete Rock, and Kwamé.[17] The song has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, set to be presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011.[18]

The album's second single, "10 Seconds", leaked to the Internet in September, and was officially released as a single on October 15, 2010.[19] It has spent 10 weeks on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 18.[16] The single's music video was released to the Internet on November 13, 2010.[20] It features the theme of revenge towards an unfaithful boyfriend.[20] It charted at number 17 and has spent 14 weeks on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[16]

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 57,000 copies in the United States.[21] It also entered at five on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 12 on its Digital Albums chart.[22][23] The album ultimately spent six weeks on the Billboard 200.[24]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [25]
Robert Christgau (A-)[26]
Entertainment Weekly (B+)[27]
The Guardian [28]
Los Angeles Times [29]
The New York Times (favorable)[30]
Rolling Stone [31]
Slant Magazine [32]
Spin (8/10)[33]
USA Today [34]

Love Me Back received general acclaim from music critics.[35] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 85, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[35] Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it four-and-a-half out of five stars and commented that it "sprawls and stuns in equal measure".[25] Entertainment Weekly's Melissa Maerz complimented the album's ballads and dubbed Sullivan "the best kind of R&B paradox: the vulnerable diva".[27] Maura Johnston of Spin commended her "spunk", calling Sullivan "both feisty and classy".[33] Elysa Gardner of USA Today praised Sullivan's "husky, keening vocals" and noted an "exuberant spirit" in some of its songs.[34] The Philadelphia Inquirer's A.D. Amorosi gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars and complimented Sullivan's "brash confidence".[36] Michael Cragg of The Guardian praised her vocal versatility, stating "Sullivan's vocals sound lived-in, cracking and fraying on the stately '10 Seconds' and deftly wrapping themselves around the beat on the sample-heavy, Missy Elliott-produced 'Holding You Down'".[28]

However, Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan gave the album three out of five stars and expressed a mixed response towards Sullivan "play[ing] a little nicer, adhering to the Mary J. Blige school of gritty, nuanced hip-hop soul".[31] Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani found that the album "fails to reprise many of its predecessor's themes or explore any overarching new ones", but ultimately commended its production and Sullivan's "supple voice".[32] Despite viewing that it "could use more experimentation", Los Angeles Times writer Margaret Wappler complimented its "soothing intimacy" and praised Sullivan for her performance, writing that she "walks herself to the precipice of emotion without falling off. [...] Sullivan pours herself into the songs yet keeps her ground, no matter the style or tone".[29] Nitsuh Abebe of New York described her voice as "warm, well-textured, and big — authentically, naturally big" and stated "the warmth and weight of the songwriting and production live up to the singing".[37] Jon Pareles of The New York Times noted her voice as "narrow and jagged, with more grain and more tears as she applies gospel dynamics to her venting".[30]

New York Daily News writer Jim Farber gave the album four out of five stars and complimented its "overwrought and plot-heavy songs", writing that it "finds her often singing at the top of her range, playing every song like a grand scene".[38] BBC Online's Natalie Shaw praised its musical variation and Sullivan's thematic depth, describing the album as "a person exposed, emotionally fragmented and delivered with verve [...] an instant and self-assured blast of a record".[39] Alex Macpherson of The Quietus commented that Sullivan "proves how much more mileage there is in letting your ideas run riot while staying true to genre values - and has made the most creative R&B album of the year to prove it".[40] In his consumer guide for MSN Music, critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A- rating and noted the songwriting as "a big extra difference maker, with enough pop moves to lighten the overall mood".[26] Christgau commented that Sullivan is mostly "front and center, role-playing with unflinching intelligence" and praised her "soulful melodrama", stating "Sure these could all be personal history [...] But it's simpler just to wish every pro was such an astute student of the female condition".[26]

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)"   Melissa Elliot, Cainon Lamb, Jazmine Sullivan Missy Elliott, Cainon Lamb 3:36
2. "10 Seconds"   Salaam Remi, Sullivan Salaam Remi 3:07
3. "Good Enough"   Charles Harmon, Sullivan Chuck Harmony 4:02
4. "Don't Make Me Wait"   Carlos McKinney, Sullivan Los da Mystro 3:29
5. "Love You Long Time"   Remi, Sullivan Salaam Remi 3:12
6. "Redemption"   Anthony Bell, Steve McKie, Sullivan Anthony Bell 3:51
7. "Excuse Me"   Elliott, Lamb, Sullivan Missy Elliott, Cainon Lamb 3:33
8. "U Get on My Nerves" (featuring Ne-Yo) Brandon Green, Shaffer Smith, Sullivan Ne-Yo 3:53
9. "Stuttering"   Tobias Gad, Sullivan Toby Gad 3:10
10. "Famous"   David Ewing, Kevin Randolph, Sullivan, Ernest Wilson No I.D., Prolyfic 4:43
11. "Luv Back"   Elliott, Lamb, Quame Riley, Sullivan Missy Elliott, Cainon Lamb 3:36

Personnel

Credits for Love Me Back adapted from Allmusic.[42]

  • Guy Aroch – photography
  • Christian Baker – engineer
  • Anthony Bell – instrumentation, producer, programming
  • Ricky Blaze – drum programming, producer
  • Jesse Bonds – guitar
  • Anita Marisa Boriboon – art direction, design
  • Cary Clark – engineer
  • Los DaMystro – conductor, producer
  • Gleyder "Gee" Disla – engineer
  • DJ Showoff – vocals
  • Peter Edge – producer
  • Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – engineer, executive producer, producer
  • Paul J. Falcone – engineer
  • Rick Frederick – engineer
  • Toby Gad – engineer, piano, producer
  • Anthony "Rocky" Gallo – engineer
  • Erwin Gorostiza – creative director
  • Chuck Harmony – producer
  • Brandon Henderson – assistant
  • Vincent Henry – flute, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, wah wah guitar
  • Trevor Jerideau – producer
  • Mike "TrakGuru" Johnson – engineer
  • Rob Kinelski – engineer
  • StayBent KrunkaDelic – keyboards
  • Dave Kutch – mastering
  • Lamb – drum programming, engineer, producer
  • Erik Madrid – assistant, mixing engineer
  • Bei Maejor – producer
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Scott Naughton – engineer
  • Ne-Yo – producer, vocals
  • No I.D. – producer
  • Brandon Parks – engineer
  • Calvin Parmer – bass
  • Christian Plata – assistant
  • Prolyfic – additional production
  • Questlove – drums, engineer
  • Kevin Randolph – keyboards
  • Rebel One – management
  • Geno Regist – engineer
  • Salaam Remi – bass, drum programming, drums, executive producer, Fender rhodes, keyboards, producer, strings
  • Harold Robinson – bass
  • Andros Rodriguez – engineer
  • Davide Rossi – cello, string arrangements, strings, viola, violin
  • Ashunta Sheriff – make-up
  • Jazmine Sullivan – producer, vocals
  • Pam Sullivan – management
  • Pamela Watson – stylist
  • Sam Wheat – engineer
  • Yusef Williams – hair stylist
  • Steve Wyreman – guitar

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
Position
US Billboard 200[24] 17
US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[22] 5

Release history

Country Date
United Kingdom[4] November 29, 2010
United States[5] November 30, 2010
Japan[6] December 8, 2010

References

  1. ^ Herrera, Monica. Lipshutz, Jason (November 12, 2010). Jazmine Sullivan to Receive Billboard's Rising Star Award for Women in Music. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-01.
  2. ^ Product notes – Love Me Back. Muze. Retrieved on 2010-12-01.
  3. ^ a b Staff (July 23, 2010). Rappers “Hold Down” Jazmine Sullivan. BET. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  4. ^ a b Love Me Back: Jazmine Sullivan. Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  5. ^ a b Love Me Back: Jazmine Sullivan. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  6. ^ a b c ラヴ・ミー・バック: ジャズミン・サリヴァン. Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (August 31, 2010). Mary J. Blige Announces Tour With Jazmine Sullivan. MTV News. Retrieved on 2010-12-01.
  8. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (December 3, 2010). Jazmine Sullivan Thrilled to Succeed Gaga As Billboard's Rising Star. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-03.
  9. ^ Staff (September 21, 2010). Album Cover: Jazmine Sullivan – ‘Love Me Back’. Rap-Up. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  10. ^ Staff (November 19, 2010). Jazmine Sullivan's New Album Available For Preview. RTTNews. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  11. ^ Administrator (June 29, 2010). Jazmine Sullivan, "Holding You Down (Goin' In Circles)" MP3. The Fader. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  12. ^ Joseph, Justin (August 31, 2010). Behind the Groove// Jazmine Sullivan “Holding You Down (Goin’ in Circles)” Video and Remix with Mary J. Blige. Centric. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  13. ^ Track listing and credits as per liner notes for Love Me Back album
  14. ^ Song Performance: Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles). αCharts.us. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  15. ^ a b Jazmine Sullivan Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  16. ^ a b c d Jazmine Sullivan Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  17. ^ a b Joseph, Justin (August 27, 2010). Exclusive: Behind the Scenes Footage of Jazmine Sullivan's New Vid. Centric. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  18. ^ Nominees: 2010 - 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards. Grammy.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-02.
  19. ^ Amazon.com: 10 Seconds: Jazmine Sullivan: MP3 Downloads Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  20. ^ a b Staff (November 13, 2010). Jazmine Sullivan Plots Her Revenge in '10 Seconds'. Singersroom. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  21. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 8, 2010). Boyle Back to No. 1 on Billboard 200, Peas Begin At No. 6. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-08.
  22. ^ a b Jazmine Sullivan Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-09.
  23. ^ Jazmine Sullivan Album & Song Chart History – Digital Albums. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-09.
  24. ^ a b Jazmine Sullivan Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-09.
  25. ^ a b Kellman, Andy (November 26, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  26. ^ a b c Christgau, Robert (February 8, 2011). "Consumer Guide: Love Me Back". MSN Music. Archived from the original on 2011-02-11.
  27. ^ a b Maerz, Melissa (November 24, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  28. ^ a b Cragg, Michael (November 25, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  29. ^ a b Wappler, Margaret (November 30, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
  30. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (November 26, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  31. ^ a b Dolan, John (November 30, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2011-02-25.
  32. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (November 23, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  33. ^ a b Johnston, Maura (November 25, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. Spin. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  34. ^ a b Gardner, Elysa (November 30, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. USA Today. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
  35. ^ a b Love Me Back (2010): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
  36. ^ Amorosi, A.D. (December 19, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved on 2011-01-02.
  37. ^ Abebe, Nitsuh (December 8, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. New York. Retrieved on 2010-12-08.
  38. ^ Farber, Jim (December 21, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. New York Daily News. Retrieved on 2010-12-24.
  39. ^ Shaw, Natalie (December 1, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. BBC Online. Retrieved on 2010-12-01.
  40. ^ Macpherson, Alex (December 23, 2010). Review: Love Me Back. The Quietus. Retrieved on 2010-12-24.
  41. ^ Preorder Love Me Back on iTunes. iTunes Store. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  42. ^ Credits: Love Me Back. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.

External links

Jazmine Sullivan
Studio albums
Fearless · Love Me Back
Singles
Featured singles