Published on Dec 17, 1997
With their seamless harmony and church-going-folk image, Boyz II
Men brought R&B to the masses with
Cooleyhighharmony and the bedroom album
II. The good thing about this were all the old and new
R&B acts who were able to break into the money-making markets;
the bad thing were all the Boyz II Men knock-offs there were
amongst those new acts. But groups like Silk and Portrait have
proven that there can only be one Boyz II Men; it’s time for them
to prove it for themselves with
Evolution.
The title is misleading. There has been a miniscule change in
emphasis – from bedroom to RL – but they haven’t exactly gone up to
the next level. The unconvincing over-the-top “I’ll Make Love to
You” and “On Bended Knee” are (gleefully) replaced by songs that
take full advantage of the tear-inducing harmonies of their voices.
“4 Seasons of Lonliness” is a smashing choice for the first single;
the images and the
bel canto delivery all touched with their original vocal
mesh represents the album’s overall style like a real single should
(ya hear, Miss Janet?).
As it is in R&B albums these days, the producers get equal
attention from reviewers. Puff Daddy is the disappointment; “Come
On” is still a mediocre track despite its 10 songwriters (including
names like Missy Elliot and Sting). Trying to pass low-scale
whispers as sensuality does not work. What would Missy Elliot
think? “I Can’t Let Her Go” is incomplete and lacks the hip-hop
feel to make it groove. “To the Limit” is another blind stab at the
new direction of Top 40; some people just don’t have what it takes.
Not even Puff Daddy could help you.
“The Girl in the Life Magazine” screams of “ME BABYFACE SONG!!!”
The guitar and some vocal arrangement echos “Water Runs Dry”;
Face’s songs
are starting to sound all the same. “A Song for Mama”, like
“Dear God” to follow, is a bland-ass tribute even to a Confucious
fan (respect your elders) like me. A vocal showcase, and no more.
Even if “Never” is yet another reincarnation, it’s still a good
song; Babyface will get worn out eventually … but not today.
This album would be locked out of evolution if it wasn’t for the
Flyte Time Productions team of James Harris, III, Terry Lewis and
Jimmy Jam. The real change is here; Flyte Time knows funk like no
other in the business. “Human II (Don’t Turn Your Back On Me)”
sounds almost convincingly funky, and “Can You Stand the Rain” is a
much more original a cappella effort than the earlier “Yesterday”.
“4 Seasons of Lonliness”, like Janet Jackson’s “Come Back to Me”,
is a milestone in Flyte Time’s productions. Pop can be art,
too.
They don’t need hip-hop, new producers, major upheavals in
arrangements or any other new-fangled stuff out there. Let Mariah
work with Puffy, don’t catch up to Missy Elliot and stop
compromising with Babyface.
Evolution is not supposed to work backwards.