So Much Better (album)

Last updated
So Much Better
Carltsomuch.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 30, 2007
Length68:22
Label
Producer
Carl Thomas chronology
Let's Talk About It
(2004)
So Much Better
(2007)
Conquer
(2011)

So Much Better is the third studio album by American singer Carl Thomas. It was released by Umbrella Recordings and Unsung Entertainment on June 5, 2007 in the United States. The album marked Thomas's debut release with the label following his departure from Bad Boy after the release of his second album Let's Talk About It (2004). The singer reteamed with frequent collaborator Mike City to work on the majority of So Much Better. Distribution of the album was helmed by Universal Music through Bungalo Records.

Contents

The album earned largely positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number 25 on the US Billboard 200, selling about 28,000 copies in its first week. It also opened and peaked at number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming his third consecutive album to do so. The album was preceded by lead single "2 Pieces," which peaked at number 63 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and entered the top 20 on the Adult R&B Songs chart. So Much Better's second album was "Late Night Rendezvous."

Background

In March 2004, Thomas' second album, Let's Talk About It , was released by Bad Boy Records. While the album's two singles, "She Is" and title track "Let's Talk About It," were significantly less successful than previous singles, [1] it became his highest-charting album yet, reaching the top five of the US Billboad 200. It was also certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [2] In October 2004, Thomas's brother Duranthony Evans was killed in a drive-by shooting. [3] This devastated Thomas, causing him to take a sabbatical from his music and the promotion of Let's Talk About It. [3]

In 2006, it was reported that Thomas had left Bad Boy Records and would release his next album as part of a one-off deal with Jheryl Busby's Umbrella Recordings and producer Mike City's Unsung Entertainment. [2] [4] While City took over as the album's main producer, Thomas also consulted Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Bryan Michael Cox, and up and coming producing team, Pitch Black, to work with him on the abum. [4] Guest vocalists included Brandy, Dave Hollister, and Lalah Hathaway. [4] The cover for So Much Better was photographed by former rapper D-Nice, while the A&R overseeing the project were Hakim Green and Vincent "Tuffy" Morgan, members of the mid-1990s hip hop group Channel Live.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Mark Edward Nero from About.com called So Much Better a "flawed gem; the quality of songs varies somewhat – but overall, if you're a fan of traditional R&B, it's worth adding to your collection." [5] AllMusic wrote about the album: "Passionate, sensual, and romantic, yet never lapsing into a retro-themed rehash of the past, So Much Better, Thomas' third album, strikes just the right combination of slick, hip-hop-spiced grooves and vintage R&B soul [...] Sharp production and arrangements add to the overall luster of the disc, making So Much Better a contemporary R&B offering that fans of the genre can sink their teeth into." [6] Billboard found that So Much Better "offers the same sincerity and raw intensity that made us swoon in the first place." [7]

Commercial performance

Released on June 5, 2007 in the United States, [6] So Much Better debuted at number 25 on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling about 28,000 copies in its first week. [8] Thomas' third consecutive album to peak at number two on the latter chart, it marked his first project to miss the top ten of the Billboard 200. [8]

Track listing

So Much Better track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."If I Could" (Intro)
1:51
2."Another You"FlowersCity3:28
3."2 Pieces"FlowersCity3:48
4."Thought You Should Know" (featuring Lalah Hathaway)
  • Mobley
  • Young
4:16
5."Somethin' Bout You" (featuring Brandy)FlowersCity3:55
6."If That Ain't Love"FlowersCity3:55
7."Late Night Rendezvous"FlowersCity3:50
8."Get You Back" (Interlude)
  • Thomas
  • Flowers
City0:33
9."So Much Better"FlowersCity4:23
10."Oh No (You Can't Be Serious)"
  • Thomas
  • Taylor
  • Mobley
  • Young
  • Mobley
  • Young
4:48
11."Can't Get Over" (featuring Dave Hollister)FlowersCity4:05
12."How Can We"FlowersCity4:10
13."If You Ever"
  • Cox
4:42
14."Say I Do"
  • Thomas
  • Taylor
  • Mobley
  • Young
  • Mobley
  • Young
4:37
15."I Miss You" (Interlude)FlowersCity1:40
16."Home"5:03
17."Outro" (Remix) (featuring E-40)
  • Flowers
  • City
4:20
18."Oh No (You Can't Be Serious)" (Remix) (featuring Baby Cham)
  • City
4:48
Total length:68:22
Circuit City bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."No Trouble"FlowersCity4:05
20."All My Life"FlowersCity5:06

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of So Much Better. [9]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for So Much Better
Chart (2007)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [10] 25
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [11] 2

Release history

So Much Better release history
RegionDateFormatsLabelRef.
JapanMay 30, 2007
  • Umbrella
  • Unsung
[ citation needed ]
United StatesJune 5, 2007 [6]

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References

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  3. 1 2 "Carl Thomas Explains Why He Turned Down TV One's "Unsung"". AllHipHop . Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Carl Thomas' New CD "So Much Better" Coming Soon". djbooth.net. March 23, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Nero, Mark Edward. "Album Review: Carl Thomas – "So Much Better"". About.com . Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "So Much Better Review by AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  7. "Reviews & Previews". Billboard . June 9, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Hasty, Katie (June 13, 2007). "T-Pain Soars To No. 1 Ahead Of Rihanna, McCartney". Billboard . Retrieved February 5, 2025.
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  11. "Carl Thomas Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2015.