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.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.