Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA

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Boyz II Men

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It's disgusting and disheartening that a great group like Boyz II Men even has to MAKE a tribute album or that their last full-length album was released exclusively online and in Japan.

Worse yet is the seemingly rampant idea that the Boyz should stop recording because they "just don't sound the same" without Bass (Mike McCary).

Unforgivable is the statement by one idiotic reviewer (who, incidentally, can't even spell or use proper grammar) that this sounds like something a "soccer mom" would make and that it was cheesy because of Randy Jackson's involvement.

The fact of the matter is that people went out and made Ja Rule's remake/sampling of Stevie Wonder's "Do I do" (featuring Case-CASE!!!) a multi-platinum hit. No one complained about a classless rapper "tainting" an old song.

No one pointed out that Lauryn Hill's vocals on "Killing me Softly" were, well, SOFT and nowhere NEAR the original version.

I mean, really...PHARRELL comes out and gets FEATURED as a GUEST VOCALIST on rap songs...and people just laugh it off.

J. Lo, Britney Spears, Mya, Ciara...the list goes on and on of artists who are WHOLLY unworthy to even think about sampling great artists.

And let's not even THINK about forgetting good 'ole Mary J. Blige, who jacked a whole album worth of classic soul songs to PUT HERSELF ON THE MAP.

And with that, I begin my short argument.

First of all, Boyz II Men is--hands down--the greatest male vocal group of the past 17 years of R&B. It's not even close. ONE--JUST ONE--of their albums--II--sold more records and won more awards that Jagged Edge's and 112's ENTIRE CATALOGS PUT TOGETHER...

Second, before the Boyz even endeavored to make this and Throwback, they had already come out with FOUR studio albums, a Spanish album, a platinum Christmas album (that remains the best Christmas album of this generation), and a remix album. This doesn't include chart-topping or near hits that did NOT appear on their albums like "End of the Road", "One Sweet Day" with Mariah Carey, and "I Will Get There" (Prince of Egypt).

The Boyz didn't NEED to ESTABLISH themselves with this record. They merely RE-INTRODUCED some hits from Motown WHILE RE-INTRODUCING THEMSELVES.

Who else could sing "War" like the Boyz did here? Who else could do an acappella version of "End of the Road" featuring the incomparable singer (more comparable song-WRITER, lol), Brian McKnight? With whom else would Patti LaBelle perform "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" by Ashford and Simpson?

112? Not together.

Dru Hill? Too many personality issues...not together or on hiatus...

Jagged Edge? PLEASE. They sing WELL together, but there is NO HARMONY.

Who else IS there???

I realize that attrition is not the strongest argument, so how about this one...The album is actually a 4 1/2 star album.

The production is SUPPOSED TO SOUND DATED because the SONGS are from the 60's and 70's.

I'll admit that the only song I wasn't feeling was "Reach Out". The Boyz' voices don't fit that song. I also think that the Ribbon in the Sky acappella version was beautiful, but loses the individuality of the original and may upset some fans.

However...

"War" (what is-a good for, absolutely nothing) may make some newer listeners think about "Rush Hour"...but that song is SOOOOOOOO appropriate for the times.

"Got to be There" was a very beautiful song.

"Ain't nothing like the real thing--very soulful (actually this whole album has a lot more soul than we are used to from the Boyz and THAT IS GOOD.)

"Easy" was just magnificent--it's a tie between that one and "War" for the best song on the album.

"End of the Road"--yes, it's different without Mike, but he was never the centerpiece of the group...the other members sang all of the leads and his presence, while missed, is not fatal.

"All My Love"--wow...just WOW.

No, the album isn't perfect, but neither was "II"--which is considered the group's best.

It's more in line with "Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya", which was considered a very good album.

Pick it up and listen to it all the way through...This album made me think of my childhood (I'm 31) growing up with Mom (RIP) and Dad listening to these classics...what will it remind you of??

4 1/2 stars...Very good album--WAYYYYYYYYY better than any other male vocalists out there.

P.S. Please do not be so spoiled by the relative greatness of Boyz II Men's airtight vocals that you can't appreciate living (and still young--mid-thirties) legends. People do that with Take 6.

John Stephens may call himself a legend, but the Boyz don't have to--Let's stand up and give them the ovation they deserve--as LIVING LEGENDS.

Salih Alexander, Esquire