Boyz II Men - Motown A Journey Through Hitsville USA
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Free Music Notes for Motown A Journey Through Hitsville USA
Free Music Review: The Best of old MoTown
Hit: 4 Stars
It was great hearing those old great Motown hits by a group of guys that wasn't around when music was soulful, and doing justice to these old songs. Great CDFree Music Review: Good Cover
Hit: 4 Stars
I had never listened to this group before, but they did a genre of music I love. The covers are excellent, especially of WAR. They are quite talented!Free Music Review: The Boyz Roots Of Motown
Hit: 3 Stars
When it came to the Motown sound in the 90's, no act had really dominated that vibe like Boyz II Men. They really brought out the most into what true harmonies were like to a younger generation. With albums that thrived like II and Cooleyhighharmony, they just delivered strongly in R&B and music in general. Unfortunately, that seemed to be a longtime ago, with the 2000 decade arised, the group lost a lot of footing with audiences, in favor of acts like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Not only that, the group turned from a foursome to a trio, after the departure of bass vocalist Darius McCray who embattled scoliosis. So for the past few records, it has been nothing but covers for the group, and this second cover album says that point as well.
Boyz II Men's 2007 album Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville U.S.A., is a collection of classic covers of the Motown era that showcase the deep of what the roots our from Motown. This is also the groups Decca label debut. After the covers that the group made out from Throwback on 2004, this album brings out the classic feel of covers that show fairly well on what the group can make as a trio, but not as a definite. Nevertheless, the collection does include classic rendiditions of Motown standards like Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me, and the lesser-known Debarge with All This Love, which beacons in a stronger feel, that Debarge missed out on in the 80's, and a cover of Marvin & Tammi Tarrell's Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing as a duet with Patti LaBelle which fairs well, but doesn't feel like anything spectacular. There also is a solid remake of The Commodores classic Easy, which the trio makes well as their own. The group also makes out a remake of a acapella version of their #1 smash End Of The Road, as a reintroduction to a whole new era, but just doesn't capture their classic from Eddie Murphy's movie Boomerang.
Unlike their Decca Records labelmate Deborah Cox, who made a solid cover album with Destination Moon earlier this year, Boyz II Men's Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville U.S.A., tries to capture their classic sound, but doesn't do enough to strongly bring in a newer era. It is great for die hard Boyz II Men fans who've still stood by Nathan, Shawn and Wanya through the years, but it is not a must buy for music lovers. This Motown sound makes the mark, but just does feel like it is completely signed, sealed and delivered enough to be yours.
Album Cover: B
Songs: C 1/2+
Price: C+
Mastering: B 1/2-
Overall: C+
Free Music Review: Disappointing but its Boyz II Men
Hit: 3 Stars
This album of covers has some shining points. If you're a Boyz II Men fan, you can't be too mad at hearing the guys again (minus Michael). If you're a fan of their harmony (and who isn't) some of these tracks really do show off the harmony that made this group so distinct and why their name lasts even though they're way past the prime of their careers. Check out the harmony on their remakes of their own song "End of the Road" and Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky." This being said though...I only really gave this album the 3 stars pretty much because it's Boyz II Men and the couple of tracks with pretty nice harmony (End of the Road, Ribbon in the Sky, Aint Nothing like the Real thing with Patti Labelle, All This Love, and Easy). The other 8 tracks of the album sound like professional karaoke (which makes sense seeing that American Idol's Randy Jackson produced the album according to amazon.com). Check their cover of "War" from Edwin Starr; it just doesn't work. Their voices are too smooth for war talk man. I'd say, for majority of the album, including the tracks I said I liked, I'd still rather listen to the original which is why this is basically a karaoke album to me with professional production. When Luther Vandross did a cover of a song, that song became HIS and you forgot about the original! I listen to this album and I want them to just do their own thing. Boyz II Men is classic group themselves! They surely could contribute something new and soulful to R&B right now, but it was a good notion to try to pay homage to these Motown classics though. Just didn't quite work for what I expect from Boyz II Men.
Question: I know Michael Mccray is no longer an active member of the group, but there is a base vocal on this album. You think he recorded the album with them or someone is filling in? Anyone know?
Free Music Review: Not as good as it could be
Hit: 3 Stars
Okay, I've seen the boyz sing the songs live. I've seen them dancing, jumping, turning, having fun, exhausting themselves and still the songs sounded ten times better than on the album. Needless to point out that something must have gone awfully wrong during production of this cd.
And there is one other gripe I have. When the guys perform the songs from this cd on stage, you can hear bass parts being sung and spoken. When you look at the boyz you know it's not coming from any of them. This leads me to thinking that the boyz know that they're sorely missing a bass voice. The group just isn't whole without Mike, and they should realise that. I've read an interview with the remaining fellows indirectly confirming that there had been some tensions within the group that, aside from his back condition also lead Mike to leave, which is a shame. Since he's still out there, active, producing, acting, making music, for Pete's sake get him back! He is Boyz II Men as much as any of the other guys, and although the vocals on this album are grand as ever, anyone who's known the group from the beginning is missing the round perfect harmonies.