This is How I Feel is the fifth studio album by American singer Tank. It was released by Atlantic Records on May 8, 2012. 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.
Background
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. 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. 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.
Singles
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. 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.
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'." 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." 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.
Commercial performance
This Is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 33,000 copies, becoming the second top-ten album of Tank's career. 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).
