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.
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.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.