Twenty-six years in the game, Atlanta-based quartet Jagged Edge remains strong. Fans are eagerly awaiting All Original Parts, the group’s eleventh studio album. Thankfully JE stays on the road and recently blessed fans with a new single. This year for Valentine’s Day, JE released a cover of Deon Estus’s “Heaven Help Me.” JE changes things a bit by changing the last phrase to us.
Now I was overly critical of JE’s last two albums, The Layover and A Jagged Love Story. However, I was a fan of their cover of the Air Supply hit, “All Out Of Love,” so I was open to giving the song a chance. The song “Heaven Help Me” by Deon Estus was a heart-wrenching plea for help as the narrator reflected on the loneliness and difficulty of dealing with a breakup. Deon expresses a longing for their former partner and pleads with Heaven to help them move on. The change overwhelms him, and he finds comfort in reminiscing about her. Despite their situation, his plea for help reminds him never to give up hope in difficult times.
The Casey twins’ production has always complimented their vocal harmony. Twins Brian Casey & Branden Casey, Richard Wingo, and Kyle Norman deliver some of their familiar four-part harmonies in their rendition. Additionally, the twins produced the song. JE updated the song with more contemporary instrumentation. The added bass line and modern instrumentation give the updated version of the song a sound some will love.
Although the song sounds good enough to satisfy die-hard JE fans, auto-tune isn’t working. We all know that Jagged Edge can sing, and why they use auto-tune is beyond me. The original version is simplistic, which makes the song work. Here it seems like Jagged Edge is chasing trends again. Silk Sonic showed us what can be done with R&B covers last year when they did “Love’s Train,” which catered to the younger generation and old-school fans. Sadly this song is another heartbreak for this JE fan.
Final Grade C-
“Heaven Help Us” isn’t available to stream yet. However, you can view the video here JAGGED EDGE – HEAVEN HELP US (DEON ESTUS REMAKE) – YouTube
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.
The ballad was composed by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin, and it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1981. Eight years later, Natalie Cole covered the song, shortening the title. It became the fourth single from her twelfth album, “Good to Be Back.”
Braxton’s vocal talent is perfect on the standards “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” However, like any good R&B Christmas album, it is the soulful yuletide bops where Braxton truly shines. The album’s first single, “Snowflakes of Love,” is instrumental of Earl Klugh’s “Now We’re One”. Braxton’s lush vocals encapsulate the warmth and joy of romantic love amidst a wintery backdrop.