In an industry that often promotes talentless pop stars over true artistry, Chrisette Michele—the singer/ songwriter who wrote and belted the vintage-style hooks on Jay-Z's "Lost Ones" and Nas' "Can't Forget About You"—stands apart. More AC than poppy R&B, her classy debut lets her warm, scratchy vocals run the show. The meat of the album: serene, stripped-down piano ballads like the Babyface-produced "Your Joy" (an ode to her dad) and the John Legend-arranged "Love Is You" (think "Ordinary People"). The potatoes: jazzy numbers like "Let's Rock" and the Will.i.am-crafted "Be O.K." A bit on the slow side, "I Am" could have benefited from more youthful joints like the independent-female anthem "Good Girl" and the cabaret-esque "Like a Dream." But refreshingly, Michele's game comes with no frills. The voice says it all. —Clover Hope