Album Review: Jagged Edge, A Jagged Love Story
Atlanta based R&B group, Jagged Edge, returns to the music scene with their double album A Jagged Love Story. The group comprising twins Brandon & Brian Casey, Kyle Norman, and Richard Wingo have been a force in the music industry since the 1997 debut A Jagged Era.
Flashback Friday Album Review: New Edition Home Again
One of my most anticipated album releases of all time was New Edition’s 1996 reunion project, Home Again. Reunion talks were the wishes of every fan since lead vocalists Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill joined BBD members Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, and Michael Bivins for a surprise performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1990.
Wayback Wednesday Album Review: Usher, My Way
Following the lukewarm response to his self-titled debut in 1994, Usher and his team returned to the drawing board to ensure that he didn’t become a one and done singer. Following the blueprint laid out by Bobby Brown’s second album Don’t Be Cruel, My Way was indeed the beginning of Usher’s rise.
Throwback Tuesday Album Review: Terrence Howard, Shine Through It
I was willing to give Howard a chance, sadly not only is Shine Through It one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. Released by Columbia Records on September 2, 2008, Shine Through It is rarely mentioned by Howard or anyone else.
Flashback Friday Album Review: Smokey Robinson, A Quiet Storm
Six years before I was born, soul singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson released his third solo album A Quiet Storm on Motown Records. Debuting on March 26th, 1975, A Quiet Storm was the album that defined Smokey as a force to be reckoned with.
Wayback Wednesday Album Review: Bobby Brown, Forever
In the fall of 1997, after a tumtolous reunion tour with his group New Edition, Bobby Brown returned from a five year solo career hiatus to release his fourth solo album, Forever.
Throwback Tuesday Album Review: El DeBarge, El DeBarge
Singer El DeBarge was in the midst of a successful career as the lead singer of DeBarge when the time came for the inevitable solo record. Following the group’s fourth album, Rhythm of the Night, began recording his solo debut.
Flashback Friday Album Review: Ricky Bell, Ricardo Campana: The Album
Ricky Bell, known for his work in New Edition and its spin off group Bell Biv DeVoe, quietly released a solo album in 2000. Outside of the cover song “Hey There Lonely Girl”, “One More Day ” a co-lead on “I’m Still in Love with You”, Bell never had a chance to sing lead during his time with New Edition.
Album Review: Avant, Can We Fall In Love
Cleveland born R&B singer Avant returns to the scene with his ninth studio album, Can We Fall in Love. Overseeing the bulk of the songwriting and working solely with producer Travis Sayles, Avant is here to show us that R&B isn’t dead.
Way back Wednesday Album Review: Johnny Gill, Provocative
Johnny Gill had already released two solo albums and a duet album with childhood friend Stacy Lattisaw when he joined New Edition in 1987. After helping the group shed its bubblegum image and emerge as a mature R&B group, Gill released his third solo in 1990 to the success of two million sold. Gill then […]
Throwback Tuesday Album Review: Hi-Five, Faithful
R&B groups in 1993 were all the rage when singing quintet Hi-Five released its third album, Faithful on October 26th, 1993. The group was enjoying the successes of the song “Unconditional Love” which initially appeared on the soundtrack of the summer hit Menace II Society. Written by Larry Campbell, with production by Art & Rhythm, the song stayed true to the group’s roots while pushing towards a more mature sound.
Flashback Friday Album Review: Ralph Tresvant, Rizz-Wa-Faire
R&B music was alive and well when New Edition front man Ralph Tresvant released his third album Rizz -Wa-Faire in March 2006. While Tresvant was still touring with NE, there hadn’t been a Ralph Tresvant solo album in twelve years. The singer would have to bring in a young audience and compete with the likes […]