Disco de Boyz II Men: “Remedy”

Boyz II Men have seen the highs and experienced the lows throughout their 15 year career. Having some of the most successful R&B albums and singles in the history of music says a lot. But the lack of sales and promotion for their last couple of releases says even more. With the departure of Michael McCary due to an ongoing back ailment, Nathan, Shawn and Wanya have been battling for attention that they should have never lost to begin with. But bad business, grueling concert tours, and questionable songwriting decisions left them in the boat they found themselves in. They truly needed something to put them back on the path of success again. So they dusted their shoulders off and came up with The Remedy, an import album (it's set for a 2007 release in the US) that plants them right in the thick of things again.

The ballads on The Remedy are outstanding, something that we've known they could do since the days of Cooleyhighharmony. One listen to "Here I Come" will convince any naysayer of their singing ability. "Morning Love" is a sweet, eloquent tune that will instantly make the mood right. "Perfect Love Song" is where they compare the qualities of a woman to what else....the perfect love song! "Gonna Have" is another powerful ballad that is just as good as anything they've put out in the past. Even their mid-tempo and club tracks are substantial, with grooves like "The Last Time," "Crush" and the first single "Muzak" proving their more than just balladeers. The only two songs that don't have that spark like the others are "Ego" and "Booed Up."

Boyz II Men has another legitimate chance at getting back in good with the R&B world, even though I firmly believe that Full Circle was a wonderful yet under-promoted album that should have been their comeback album. But like they always say....good things come to those who wait. And luckily for all the BIIM fans out there, the rumored Valentine's Day release in the states of The Remedy will be worth waiting for. For those who can't wait, you could always drop $25-$33 for the import version right now. But word has it that the US release will be a double disc with a full 2nd disc of re-recorded hits from the past with the music more focused on how they feel today. We'll have to wait and see how that sounds, but if it's anything like the songs on this Japanese import, The Remedy will certainly be well worth the wait.

In the twenty first century Boyz II Men were considered has beens by many in the US, but were still mega stars in the over seas market. With The Remedy, BIIM show they still have classy soul mixed with grown & sexy slow jams. The opening track Muzak compares a women to the love of the music but it's tracks three & four Here I Come & The Perfect Love Song which make this CD a winner. Here I Come is song for the grown & sexy about love making and not sex while The Perfect Love Song is easily one of the strongest ballads the fellas ever recorded. If you get a chance pick this one up.

I am a lifelong fan of Boyz II Men,and although this is not your comfortable Boyz CD, I LOVE IT. The fellas have grown up, and this music reflects it! It is full of the R&B that they had been wanting to do for so long. I for one am glad they got the opportunity to do it. The dance tracks are so catchy,"All Booed Up" and "YOu Don't Love Me" are awesome.

The slow tracks are sensual and sweet all at the same time. "Morning Love" is a the best! "The Last Time" is the most beautiful AND technically sound song on the entire album, although it is the saddest. Even though it is sad, you will enjoy listening none the less. My personal favorite on the album is "Crush". This song is fun and sexy and everything all together. On a whole, Boyz II Men fans will be pleasantly surprised.And although this is not the first album recorded without Mike,(Throwback was in 2005, get this one too!),I have to say that Nate does a wonderful job holding down the bass notes. You can hear all the wonderful harmonies you are used to, along with the R&B they had been wanting to do.

Outstanding!

Response to the last review: Mike left the group as he has chronic back problems! but i agree, they need some kind of bass. just aren't many around that compare to Mr McCary. To have Babyface, Brian McKnight, Jam & Lewis and David Foster writing & producing for Boyz II Men all on the same album, would be a dream come true for me. they're the best around. but i suppose the Boyz wanted to see what they could do on their own. Not a bad album really. Considering the quality of their hits like End Of The Road and I'll Make Love To You, it's easy to see why people are dissappointed with their new album! Still i enjoyed it....

I have to say that I am a HUMONGOUS Boyz II Men fan and the idea of a new record had so excited when I first heard about it. Shawn "Slim" Stockman had indicated it was "a great record, and one of the best they have done". Sadly, while I respect Mr. Stockman's craft for songwriting and his wonderful gift for song, their wonderful voices, sadly get boggles donw in most of the production on the album. Their voices havr never been better, but there are 2 major things that are the problem with this record.

1) The absense of Mike McCary- The lack of not having "Bass" here is very apparent in many of the songs, his wonderful lower register gives the group the signature blended harmony. Instead, you go away feeling a little cheated, since this is what made Boyz II Men the best R@B group of its time.

2) Lacking quality procuction- As we all are aware of, Boyz II Men had a falling out with Motown, then had a falling out with Universal, then had a falling out with Arista. Now they are on an independant label, which isn't a nad thing. The bad thing is, that they don't have the major money behind them, to heap tons of money into the production costs, as a result they along with rookie(aka cheap producers) take the reins, and the results are quite mixed. Every single one of the classic Boyz II Men tunes had either Babyface or Jam and Lewis behind the controls.

What I would like to see on the next record: As a HUGE fan(I was one of the very first persons to actually pick up "II" in LA)

1) Hire the following writers/ producers: Brian McKnight, David Foster, Jam and Lewis and Babyface to work on the new record. All of these guys'slick production is perfectly tailored made for the Boyz II Men sound.

2) Get Mike back: Adding "Bass" back will really allow Boyz II Men to do songs they could only do with him present(i.e. "Oh Well"(another Jam and Lewis production)

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