Boyz II Men – Throwback (A PopEntertainment.com Music Review)

PopEntertainment
Dec 29, 2004
2 min read

Boyz II Men - Throwback (Koch)

Boyz II Men defined the decade of the 90's with their sinless R&B harmonies and pure pop appeal. With hits such as "On Bended Knee," "Motownphilly," "End of the Road" and "I'll Make Love to You," Boyz II Men will go down in history has one of the greatest vocal groups of all time. They cemented their place in music history with the now classic duet, "One Sweet Day," with songstress Mariah Carey, which topped the charts for a record 16 weeks.

With the conclusion of that era seemed to mean the demise of the Philadelphia quartet. No longer were they the chart topping, multi-platinum sensations they once were, taking a back seat to pop groups, N'sync and the Backstreet Boys. The turn of the century also saw the departure of Michael McCrary, the group's harmonic anchor. With commercial success seemingly in the past along with two label departures, the group now returns with arguably one of their best sets since 1997's Evolution.

Throwback consists of reinvented soul classics, with the Boyz' signature lush harmonies. Favorites such as Michael Jackson's "Human Nature," Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" and The Stylistics "You Make Me Feel Brand New" never sounded so, well brand new. Very little is lost in their translation of these timeless classics. Their vocal prowess is undeniable. Individually, Shawn, Nathan and Wanya shine. Their voices are distinct yet blend seamlessly making this a mature and easy listen.

They may never return to the pinnacle of the pop world, where they once resided. Nevertheless, their ability to harmonize and mesmerize was not lost. Throwback is an example of their growth and transition into the adult arena. Boyz II Men, unlike many of their pop counterparts have lived the days as Boyz and now return as Men. (8/04)

Abraham Kuranga