Released 10 years ago
Better
Brian McKnight · 2016
49 min · 12 tracks · contemporary R&B
Smooth contemporary R&B grooves intertwine with heartfelt lyrics, showcasing McKnight's signature vocal prowess and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Better — The title track embodies the album's overall theme of personal growth and self-improvement, featuring an uplifting melody paired with introspective lyrics that resonate deeply.
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Can't Take It — This track showcases McKnight's vocal range and emotional delivery, blending classic R&B elements with modern production techniques to create a standout listening experience.
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Goodbye — 'Goodbye' presents a poignant exploration of loss and longing, highlighting McKnight's ability to convey deep emotion through both lyrics and melody.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong songwriting and vocal performances but lacks standout production elements.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a steady mid-tempo groove, while the second half introduces slower ballads that shift the emotional tone.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies, with McKnight's lead vocals often accompanied by background vocals that enhance the melodic lines.
- The lyrics across the album consistently explore themes of love and relationships, with a focus on personal experiences and emotional reflections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo groove
- romantic themes for intimacy
- background warmth for relaxation
- smooth vocals for easy listening
- gentle pacing for winding down
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer short, standalone songs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and maturity in McKnight's sound after decades in the industry.
- Career context
- By the time 'Better' was released in 2016, Brian McKnight had already established himself as a respected figure in R&B with a career spanning over two decades. This album served as his first studio release since 2013's 'More Than Words', marking a return to the forefront of contemporary R&B after a period of relative quiet following his earlier successes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe· Luther Vandross· Keith Sweat
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Strut 4:28
- 2 Just Enough 3:49
- 3 Can't Take It 4:52
- 4 Better 3:41
- 5 Uh Oh Feeling 3:41
- 6 Like I Do 3:30
- 7 Lovin You From a Distance 4:18
- 8 Goodbye 4:23
- 9 Get You Into My Life 4:16
- 10 Enough 3:28
- 11 Key 2 My Heart 4:42
- 12 Just Waiting 4:09
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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