Better is Haley Reinhart's second studio album which was released on April 29, 2016 by Red Dot & Ole.
Tracklisting[]
- My Cake 3:00
- Behave 3:14
- Better 3:40
- Can't Help Falling In Love 2:55
- Check Please 3:32
- Bad Light 3:44
- Talkin' About 3:22
- Good Or Bad 3:51
- Love Is Worth Fighting For 4:03
- I Belong To You 4:21
- Listen 4:03
Chart Performance[]
"Better" debuted at #22 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart, selling 7,500 units within its first two weeks of release.
Critical Reception[]
Jason Scott of Popdust praised "Better", writing that the album "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 four out of five stars.
Gabi Bruckner of Tongue Tied Mag 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."
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."
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.