Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
In the early '90s there was no hotter group in R&B; than Boyz II  Men. The Philadelphia foursome were smoother than their hometown brand  of cream cheese, and they shattered chart records with lush, smartly  crafted ballads. They also almost single-handedly brought the art of  harmony singing back to pop music and paved the way (don't hate them)  for the succeeding onslaught of (lesser) boy bands and teen idols. The  big news isn't just that the group is back on the scene, ready to  reclaim their crown. It's that this CD is self penned and self  produced; and the low-key-but-pointed title indicates that the group,  who always relied less on image than on musicality, is ready to prove  that substance does matter. That the foursome, who still sound great,  wrote this album is no minor detail because, at their height, Boyz II  Men were the recipients of some of the best songs that serial hitmakers  such as Jam and Lewis andBabyfacehad in  their respective trick bags. On this, their fifth CD, the group works  without that creative safety net, and it's clear that the time in the  studio with the aforementioned hitmakers was well spent. The single  "Passing You By" is heartfelt, sensitive, and anchored with a memorable  melody. Better still is "Dreams," a song that, with its twists and  turns and heartachey emotion, might be one of Boyz II Men's most  beautiful tracks to date. They have created a very soulful, very adult,  and very good record. Call it a comeback.--Amy Linden