Better (Haley Reinhart album)

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Better
Haley Reinhart - Better (album).png
Studio album by Haley Reinhart
Released April 29, 2016 (2016-04-29)
Recorded 2012–16
Genre
Length 39:19
Label red dot (independent)
ole (publisher)
Producer
Haley Reinhart chronology
Listen Up!
(2012)Listen Up!2012		 Better
(2016)
Singles from Better
  1. "Can't Help Falling in Love"
    Released: October 9, 2015
  2. "Better"
    Released: April 8, 2016

Better is the sophomore studio album by American singer and songwriter Haley Reinhart. It was released on April 29, 2016 by music publishers ole and red dot.[1] Reinhart's cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" was released as the album's first promotional single on October 9, 2015.[2][3] The lead single, "Better", was released on April 8, 2016, the same day that the album became available for pre-order.[4] Upon its release, the album was met with acclaim from critics, who praised its production, its fusion of genres and eras, Reinhart's voice and personality, and the album's overall message of empowerment. Better debuted at number 22 on the Independent Albums chart and sold 7,500 units in its first two weeks of release.

Production

Better began as an initial six-track EP which was recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in February 2015 with financial support from ole publishing company.[5][6] After being delayed several times throughout 2015, Reinhart announced that the EP would instead be expanded into her full-length sophomore LP with a release date in spring 2016.[7]

The album will include some tracks that were written as demos several years ago, as well as some newer tracks, including her cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love."[2][3][8] The first song Reinhart wrote for Better, "I Belong to You," is her professed favorite song that will be featured on the album.[9] She utilized the original productions and fused them with cuts from a live band[8] to produce a final product "with a powerful, meaty foundation" and material "that people will relate to".[2] Reinhart composed five of the album tracks with Swedish songwriter Anders Grahn, and her father provided guitar for the album.[8][10] Reinhart had a lot of production control over the album, specifying "I feel I've grown as an artist in terms of songwriting and I've really put my producing skills into practice. I was really meticulous about every nuance of the production, so I'm really proud of this record."[11]

The album includes themes of confidence and progress; Reinhart states "even in a lot of the artwork I’m doing, I have roses represented throughout all the photos. I wanted to tie in something that represents growth and evolution. A rose is constantly growing, blooming, flourishing.”[9] Additionally, she describes Better as a "sultry" mix of funk and rock with a soulful foundation that is crafted to inspire self-confidence and independence in young women, especially through the song "Better."[12]

Singles

Reinhart's cover of the Elvis Presley classic "Can't Help Falling in Love" was released as the album's first promotional single on October 9, 2015 after being utilized in a commercial for Extra Gum.[2][3] After becoming a viral phenomenon, the video amassed 18,000,000 views on YouTube and 88,000,000 views on Facebook,[2][13] and the song has currently sold approximately 200,000 units and has been streamed more than 18,000,000 times on Spotify, reaching the number one spot on the streaming service's Global Viral chart.[2][14] Additionally, the single debuted at number 25 on the Billboard AC chart dated January 16, 2016.[15] It reached a peak of number 16 on the AC chart dated April 21, 2016.[16] The song also reached a peak of 31 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart.[17]

The titular track "Better" was released as the album's lead single on April 8, 2016.[4]

Other songs

The album's second track, "Behave," premiered as a "teaser track" on Idolator on April 25, 2016, 4 days before the official release of the album.[18]

Critical reception

In an early review, Jason Scott of Popdust praised the album, which, "packed to the brim with 11 soul-inspired, Motown-fused tracks, is a kind of greatness which forges career-defining moments in time." He also lauded Reinhart for the "placement of her growl and finesse (mostly) above the production, licensing her the freedom to color outside the lines in breathtaking ways." He noted the songs "My Cake," "Can’t Help Falling in Love," "Check Please," "Better," and "Love is Worth Fighting For" as highlights from the album, rating it overall at 4 out of 5 stars.[19] Gabi Bruckner of Tongue Tied Mag also provided a positive review, praising Reinhart for her infusion of retro styles into the album. Of the beginning tracks "My Cake" and "Behave," Bruckner noted, "these two tracks side by side allow the album to build in the retro and pop glamour vibe it’s destined to unfold towards the latter," adding that "'Bad Light' follows this direction of rebellious, rock influenced vocals with sweet harmonies and jagged attitude." Overall, Bruckner lauded the album for the "empowerment flavor that continues to be one of the album’s underlying themes."[20] Emily Tan of MySpace included the album in her list of the "Top 5 Album Releases of the Week" for April 29. She praised the album as a showcase of Reinhart's personality, stating "she's not only bringing the sass but also the funk." She also noted, "throwing in jazzy scats and strong belts, the 25-year-old pop singer walks the fine line of a vintage sound and something a bit more modern."[21] Jacob Elyachar of Jake's Take praised Reinhart's "innate ability to blend multiple musical genres together" and gave the album an A+ rating overall.[22]

Commercial performance

Better debuted at number 22 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart dated May 21, 2016.[23] The album sold 7,500 units within its first two weeks of release.[14]

Promotion

Live performances

Throughout 2014, Reinhart performed several small-scale gigs, debuting many of the album tracks in her performances at Room 5 Lounge in Los Angeles.[24] In July 2015, she opened for The Rigs at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California, performing covers as well as original material from Better.[25][26] On March 18, 2016, Reinhart performed in Austin, Texas for Mix 94.7 during SXSW as part of the "West of the Fest" venue.[27] On April 30, 2016, Reinhart will hold a Better album-release and benefit concert at Durty Nellie's Pub in Palatine, Illinois for the development of multimedia sexual abuse prevention curriculum for the PAVE and Erin's Law organizations. Her concert will be held in conjunction with the The Empowerment Summit which provides professional presentations on topics including sexual abuse and mental health.[11][28] Of the show, Reinhart stated:

"the new album is going to be released the day before, so it's going to be a big homecoming on lots of levels. I'm also going to have my parents' band backing me up for that show, which is going to be great. And the cause itself is something I've really wanted to put energy and time into since I was a young girl. Plus, April happens to be Sexual Assault awareness month. I'm just happy to be a part of it."[11]

Radio promotion tour

In mid-February 2016, Reinhart launched a nationwide radio promotion tour to support the success of "Can't Help Falling in Love." Several 2016 dates were released for preliminary venues located throughout the United States.[29] Reinhart performed at The Hard Rock Cafe in Denver on February 17 for Mix 100.[30] She performed at Mix 96.9's Broken Hearts Ball concert event in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 19[31] and at the Acoustic Cafe for 96.5 Tic FM in Hartford, Connecticut on March 14.[32]

2016 Better summer solo tour

On March 28, 2016, Reinhart officially confirmed a US summer solo tour in support of the album, with an initial 17 dates announced throughout the month of June.[33] On May 25, 2016, Reinhart announced a European leg for her summer tour, which consists of an additional 16 dates throughout the months of September and October.[34]

Date City Venue
Unites States
June 3, 2016 Petaluma, California Mystic Theatre
June 4, 2016 San Francisco, California Great American Music Hall
June 6, 2016 Los Angeles, California El Rey Theatre
June 7, 2016 Solana Beach, California Belly Up
June 9, 2016 Phoenix, Arizona Crescent Ballroom
June 11, 2016 Denver, Colorado Bluebird Theater
June 13, 2016 Minneapolis, Minnesota Varsity Theater
June 14, 2016 Chicago, Illinois Lincoln Hall
June 15, 2016 Columbus, Ohio A&R Music Bar
June 17, 2016 Detroit, Michigan Saint Andrew's Hall
June 18, 2016 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Stage AE
June 19, 2016 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania World Café Live
June 21, 2016 Washington, D.C. The Hamilton
June 22, 2016 New York City, New York Gramercy Theatre
June 23, 2016 Boston, Massachusetts Brighton Music Hall
June 25, 2016 Bay Shore, New York Boulton Center for the Performing Arts
June 26, 2016 Asbury, New Jersey House of Independents
Europe
September 14, 2016 Dublin, Ireland Whelan's
September 15, 2016 Glasgow, United Kingdom Oran Mor
September 17, 2016 Manchester, United Kingdom Gorilla
September 18, 2016 London, United Kingdom O2 Academy Islington
September 19, 2016 Birmingham, United Kingdom The Glee Club
September 21, 2016 Paris, France Le Divan du Monde
September 23, 2016 Munich, Germany Ampere
September 24, 2016 Berlin, Germany Musik & Frieden
September 25, 2016 Warsaw, Poland Stodola (Open Stage)
September 26, 2016 Vienna, Austria Porgy & Bess
September 28, 2016 Frankfurt, Germany Zoom
September 29, 2016 Zurich, Switzerland Moods
October 1, 2016 Cologne, Germany Luxor
October 2, 2016 Amsterdam, Holland Bitterzoet
October 4, 2016 Copenhagen, Denmark VEGA
October 5, 2016 Stockholm, Sweden Fasching

Track listing

Initial writing credits sourced from:[35] and writing and production sourced from:[19]

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "My Cake"  
  • Lopez
  • Ordorica
 2:58
2. "Behave"  
  • Reinhart
  • Bhavik "Kingstarr" Pattani
 Pattani 3:11
3. "Better"  
Grahn 3:38
4. "Can't Help Falling in Love"  
2:53
5. "Check Please"  
Kleiner 3:29
6. "Bad Light"  
  • Flannigan
  • Grahn
 3:41
7. "Talkin' About"  
  • Reinhart
  • Grahn
  • Justin Gray
 Gray 3:19
8. "Good or Bad"  
  • Reinhart
  • Grahn
 Grahn 3:49
9. "Love Is Worth Fighting For"  
  • Reinhart
  • Reynolds
 Sir Charles Prince 4:00
10. "I Belong To You"  
Geringas 4:18
11. "Listen"  
  • Reinhart
  • Grahn
  • Maria Marcus
 Marcus 4:03

Personnel

  • Zooby Media - art direction and album design
  • Casey Curry - photography
  • Rob Cohen - recording engineer
  • Sean Gould - mixing engineer
  • Joao Carvalho - mastering engineer
  • Sir Charles Prince - live session producer
  • Haley Reinhart - executive producer
  • Simon Renshaw - management

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Independent Albums 22

References

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  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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