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Even if Boyz II Men's third album Evolution didn't rival II in terms of
commercial clout, the group was still inescapable. Every male urban
vocal group that reached the pop and R&B charts were clearly indebted
to the quartet's stylish blend of old-school harmony, post-Aretha
hyper-vocalizing, and lite hip-hop beats. The group returned to action
in the fall of 2000 with Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, a nearly eponymous
title for their first full-fledged adult album. And, as adults, they've
made sure they're responsible for their own music — at least one
member (usually all) has songwriting credits for all but two of the
album's 14 songs, and the group is credited with all but four of the
album's productions. Usually, when a popular group seizes control of
their reins in such a dramatic fashion, the result is muddled to say
the least, but a remarkable thing happens here — the group succeeds.
True, they don't expand on the formula they developed on II, but they
do fulfill the expectations that album set. There are no unexpected
twists or turns, just the standard lush ballads and swinging hip-hop
soul, but it delivers both sonically and substantively. Not every cut
on the record is a standout, but even the average cuts are pleasant,
and the best of the batch are either seductive or effortlessly
danceable. Also, the group is beginning to cut back on their vocal
histrionics, resulting in a record that is truly their most mature yet.
It might not be their best — it doesn't have the powerhouse singles
of II — but Boyz II Men make up for it by demonstrating that they can
do much of this on their own, and still sound like the standard-bearers
for urban soul.
Tracks
Title
Composer
Time
1 Beautiful Women Briggs, Burruss, McCary ... 4:09
Composed by: Briggs, Burruss, McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
2 Step On Up McCary, Morris, Morris ... 4:53
Composed by:
McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
3 Good Guy Briggs, Burruss,
McCary ... 3:49
Composed by: Briggs, Burruss, McCary, Morris,
Morris, Stockman
4 Bounce, Shake, Move, Swing McCary, Morris,
Morris ... 4:18
Composed by: McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
5 What The Deal McCary, Morris, Morris ... 4:25
Composed by:
McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
6 I Finally Know McCary,
Morris, Morris ... 5:04
Composed by: McCary, Morris, Morris,
Stockman
7 Pass You By Stockman 4:26
8 Dreams Bottoms,
Huston, Jones, Kafi ... 3:46
Composed by: Bottoms, Huston, Jones,
Kafi, McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
9 I Do Warren 4:10
10 Thank You In Advance Crawford 4:11
11 Never Go Away
Stockman 5:06
12 Lovely McCary, Morris, Morris ... 5:29
Composed by: McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
13 Know
What You Mean Morris 5:17
14 Do You Remember McCary, Morris,
Morris ... 4:19
Composed by: McCary, Morris, Morris, Stockman
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