| "throwback": Boyz ii men by Mike Heyliger |
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During the Nineties, Boyz II Men were, quite
literally, everywhere. In their heyday, fom
1991 to 1997 or so, the Boyz established
near permanent residency at the top of the
charts and on award shows. With their glory
days over and minus bass singer Michael
McCary, the best harmony group of their
generation marks their return with
“Throwback” a collection of covers that
literally, everywhere. In their heyday, fom
1991 to 1997 or so, the Boyz established
near permanent residency at the top of the
charts and on award shows. With their glory
days over and minus bass singer Michael
McCary, the best harmony group of their
generation marks their return with
“Throwback” a collection of covers that
turns out to be a quite pleasant album.
Despite the loss of McCary, Boyz' trademark sound hasn't been upset
much. They can still harmonize with the best of them, and this
collection of familiar tunes allows them to use those skills. There's not
much daring or artstically challenging on this album. It's like falling
asleep with that old familiar pillow.
Several highlights dot this ballad-heavy set. Their Philadelphia soul
homeboys Hall & Oates (coming out with a covers album of their own
soon) get paid tribute with a sumptuous version of “Sara Smile”,
while Michael Jackson gets the “Throwback” teratment with a
gorgeously haunting version of “Human Nature”, featuring Claudette
Ortiz of City High.
MC Lyte shows up to drop a playfully sensuous verse on their version
of Bobby Caldwell's “What You Won't Do For Love”, but the Boyz truly
shine (as usual) when they drop the instrumentation and just let
their voices intermingle. Their a-capella version of DeBarge's “Time
Will Reveal” is a particular triumph.
Although Nate, Shawn & Wanya still haven't learned that uptempo
songs are not quite their forte (the covers of One Way's “Cutie Pie”
and The Dazz Band's “Let It Whip” are subpar), the rest of
“Throwback” indicates that the Boyz still have the vocal skills to rule
the R&B landscape. In a year full of welcome comebacks in R&B (with
the Boyz' mentors New Edition on deck), the return of the Boyz is one
of the more satisfying R&B moments of 2004.
Despite the loss of McCary, Boyz' trademark sound hasn't been upset
much. They can still harmonize with the best of them, and this
collection of familiar tunes allows them to use those skills. There's not
much daring or artstically challenging on this album. It's like falling
asleep with that old familiar pillow.
Several highlights dot this ballad-heavy set. Their Philadelphia soul
homeboys Hall & Oates (coming out with a covers album of their own
soon) get paid tribute with a sumptuous version of “Sara Smile”,
while Michael Jackson gets the “Throwback” teratment with a
gorgeously haunting version of “Human Nature”, featuring Claudette
Ortiz of City High.
MC Lyte shows up to drop a playfully sensuous verse on their version
of Bobby Caldwell's “What You Won't Do For Love”, but the Boyz truly
shine (as usual) when they drop the instrumentation and just let
their voices intermingle. Their a-capella version of DeBarge's “Time
Will Reveal” is a particular triumph.
Although Nate, Shawn & Wanya still haven't learned that uptempo
songs are not quite their forte (the covers of One Way's “Cutie Pie”
and The Dazz Band's “Let It Whip” are subpar), the rest of
“Throwback” indicates that the Boyz still have the vocal skills to rule
the R&B landscape. In a year full of welcome comebacks in R&B (with
the Boyz' mentors New Edition on deck), the return of the Boyz is one
of the more satisfying R&B moments of 2004.
