Album Review - After 7, Takin My Time
Derrick Dunn

Derrick Dunn

Throwback Tuesday Album Review – After 7, Takin My Time

Three years after releasing their self-titled platinum-selling debut, After 7 returned to the music scene with their sophomore release Takin ‘My Time. Released on August 25th, 1992, as I was entering fifth grade. Surprising fans and the music industry, the group ventured away from the producing talents of L.A. Reid & Babyface. Instead, the group decided to work with Randy Ran, Dallas Austin, and Daryl Simmons & Kayo.

Randy Ran & Dallas Austin give the trio a fresh up-tempo New Jack Swing sound on the songs “All About Love,” “Kickin It,” and “No Better Love.” Group members Kevon Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds, and Keith Mitchell glide the songs with ease, splitting the vocals. While L.A. Reid doesn’t bless the group with his production skills provides the group with the mid-tempo “G.S.T.,” which will remind fans of the group’s hit “One Night” from their debut.

However, the group After 7 has always excelled at ballads, and their sophomore release is no expectation. The group performs one of the best cover songs of the early nineties in the form of a medley of The Originals’ song “Baby I’m For Real” and Bloodstone’s “Natural High. Opening with the late Melvin Edmonds pleading for his love, before transiting into a buttery tenor by Keith Mitchell and being brought home by Kevon Edmonds, the song still holds up twenty-eight years later.

Melvin also effortlessly leads the “better man” anthem, “Can He Love Like You This” written by L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons. However, I would have to say my favorite songs are Babyface compositions, “Truly Something Special,” and “Love By Day, Love By Night”

The former song highlights Kevon’s tenor with a lush chorus, which you can’t help but smile about when thinking about your significant other. While “Love By Day, Love By Night” is a grown man slow cut that expresses those words for a shy guy. The group even finds time to touch on sensuality in the form of the album’s title track, but they avoid going into crass material.

Outside of a surprising omission of “Nights Like This,” which was a hit for the group a year prior, I have no compliments with Takin ‘My Time. With quality production, mesmerizing vocals, After 7 easily avoided the sophomore slump with Takin My Time.

Final Grade A –

Movie Clappers

More reviews to explorer

Dennis Edwards, Don’t Look Any

Second Listen Sunday: Dennis Edwards, Don’t Look Any Further

While The Temptations miniseries is a classic, one of my most significant issues with the film was the lack of attention given to Dennis Edwards, who was the voice of one of the group’s biggest hits in the seventies. That said, I decided to give Mr. Edwards his flowers this week.

Ruff Endz, Someone To Love You

Slow Jam Saturday: Ruff Endz, Someone To Love You

R&B duo Ruff Endz burst onto the scene in the summer of 2000 with back-to-back hits in the form of “No More” and “Where Does Love Go.” from their debut album, Love Crimes. The group followed those singles up with the smash hit “Someone To Love You,” which made an appearance on the soundtrack to Chris Rock’s film Down To Earth.

Marcus Canty, This…Is Marcus Canty

Second Listen Sunday: Marcus Canty, This…Is Marcus Canty

In the year 2023, if you were to count the number of singing competitions that emerged after the success of American Idol in 2002, you might run out of fingers. One constant from all of the shows is that they rarely produce a male R&B singer who becomes a force in the genre.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

© Copyright Reviews & Dunn. All rights reserved

website designed by Red Robin Digital designers