Boyz II Men: It Has Been “Twenty” Years

Friday, 04 November 2011 20:41 Written by  Ebony L. Morman

Last week, Boyz II Men, one of the most remembered and respected R&B groups of all time, released their latest album.

Just two years after their last album, Twenty is adequately titled, being as though it has be en exactly 20 years since the release of CooleyHighHarmony, the group’s debut album.

With a variety of different types of sounds, the album successfully maneuvers between slow, love songs and upbeat, dance tracks. “One Up For Love” is exactly what the music industry needs right now. Creating a sense of unity with not only the lyrics, but also with the visual aspects in the music video, the track has a powerful message.

“So Amazing,” “Believe,” and “Benefit of a Fool” bring an upbeat feel, which is sort of different from the Boyz II Men that we’ve all come to know and love. When you’re used to hearing ballads, this particular sound catches you off guard at first listen, but after a few more, they tend to grow on you.

The only feature on the album, “More Than You’ll Ever Know,” is reminiscent of what we’re used to hearing from the men. Singer Charlie Wilson adds a unique element to a track that could possibly be played at any wedding ceremony.

Rest assure, there are some classics that take you back to the “old” Boyz II Men. While listening to new music from an artist is refreshing, especially when you can see growth, there isn’t anything like the comfort you receive that comes along with hearing classics. “Water Runs Dry,” “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love To You,” “Motownphilly,” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye...” all grace the new album.

Simply put, Twenty offers the comfort that comes with knowing the type of sound you can expect, while giving you a taste of something new and different from a group of four men that you thought you knew so well.

 

Ebony L. Morman

Ebony L. Morman

GMO's Senior Editor Ebony L. Morman received her B.A. in journalism from Northern Illinois University and her master’s in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. The Chicago-native enjoys writing about almost anything, but since she also has a passion for music, writing reviews of albums has become one of her favorite past times. Aside from GMO, Ebony freelances for a variety of publications and volunteers in her community.

Ebony can be contacted at EbonyM@glossmagazineonline.com
Follow her on Twitter at @EbonyEyes_GMO

Website: www.glossmagazineonline.com

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