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This is How I Feel is the fifth studio album by the R&B singer Tank. It was released by Atlantic Records on May 8, 2012.[1] The album was created as a more personal and spontaneous project, with Tank focusing on expressing his emotions, life experiences, and artistic freedom rather than following a specific concept. The project allowed him to explore different sounds while remaining rooted in R&B, creating music without being limited by outside expectations. The album features contributions from producers and collaborators including Danja, Eric Hudson, Kevin McCall, T-Minus, and Troy Taylor.
The album received mixed reviews, with critics praising Tank’s vocals and polished production while criticizing its predictable themes and lack of originality. This is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with 33,000 first-week sales and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming Tank's third number-one R&B album after Force of Nature (2001) and Sex, Love & Pain (2007). The album was supported by two singles, including lead single "Compliments" featuring Kris Stephens and T.I., and follow-up "Next Breath," which topped the Adult R&B Songs chart.
Following the success of Now or Never (2010), Tank prepared his fifth studio album, This Is How I Feel, as a more personal and spontaneous project.[2] In an interview with YouKnowIGotSou, Tank explained that the album was not built around a specific concept but instead focused on capturing his emotions and experiences in the moment.[2] He described the project as an opportunity to create music without worrying about expectations, allowing him to explore different sounds while staying rooted in R&B.[2]
This Is How I Feel was preceded by two singles. The album’s lead single, "Compliments," was released on October 17, 2011, featuring Kris Stephens and a guest verse from T.I. on the album version.[3] It peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, "Next Breath," was released on January 3, 2012, and achieved greater success on R&B charts, reaching number one on the Adult R&B Songs chart and number 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, becoming his second chart topper on the adult contemporary chart.[4]
David Jeffries of AllMusic wrote that "Long a cross between Brian McKnight and R. Kelly, R&B's smooth – but chiseled – operator Tank tips the scales toward the [Kelly] side on his 2012 release, filling the album with dreamy, lush productions and 'adults-only' lyrics that sometimes reach the level of 'shameful adults only'."[5]PopMatters editor David Amidon found that This Is How I Feel "clocks in as Tank’s shortest project yet at just ten tracks and 40 minutes, but somehow it still manages to be something of a trial to get through [...] If you’re just an unabashed fan of male R&B vocals, or the sight of Tank’s pecs on the cover has some sort of brainwashing effect on you, This Is How I Feel might be worth a few cursory spins on Spotify or what have you, but otherwise this is a release that will come and go with very little fanfare."[6] Writing for The Washington Post, Allison Stewart viewed the project as a technically polished but overly familiar R&B album. She praised Tank's vocal talent and ability as a ballad singer but criticized the record for lacking a unique artistic identity, relying too heavily on predictable relationship themes, and using excessive production effects.[7]
This Is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 33,000 copies,[8] becoming the second top-ten album of Tank's career.[9] It also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking his third album to top the chart following Force of Nature (2001) and Sex, Love & Pain (2007).[10]
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