There is something special about growing up in the nineties and experiencing R&B music. One of the great joys of streaming music is when a nineties act releases something new. I was delighted to see that the nineties duo Men At Large recently released a new single, “Faded,” in support of their upcoming fifth album, Love Benefits, scheduled for release on June 24th.
Primarily known for their 1990 hit single “So Alone,” Men At Large have stayed to their signature vocal stylings instead of trying to keep up with new trends in the 21st century. Original group members Dave Tolliver and Jason Champion sound elegant on the track as they croon about how a woman makes them feel.
Tolliver and Champion share the lead vocals coming across smoothly like an aged cognac. If “Faded” is the vibe the group plans to carry for the new album, I look forward to adding it to my collection.
Final Grade: B+
“Faded” is available on all streaming platforms.
Nineties R&B was home to many female groups, so standing out took more than good looks and a major industry endorsement. I still remember seeing Allure in a Vibe ad and thinking how gorgeous those four women were. The question was whether they had the talent to compete in the music scene.
In 1996, I first heard the Houston quartet Ideal on the Original Gangsters soundtrack. Their interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues,” featuring the Chi-Lites, caught my attention.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.