New Edition Albums (8)
What The Critics Say
Nearly seven years removed from Home Again, New Edition's career has once again been resuscitated. The thanks this time around go solely to music juggernaut P. Diddy rescuing the group from what could have been a future filled with casino and dinner theater shows. Signing the group makes perfect business sense, as Diddy is obviously aligning NE with the other soul artists (Mario Winans, Loon) in his Bad Boy stable, and having a group with over two decades of loyal fans can only bring in more and more sales to his empire. And like those aforementioned artists, Diddy's production house has the magic touch and comes up with another winner of a record, One Love. After a self-congratulatory "Conference Call" for an intro, "Been So Long" lifts the record off properly and could possibly be the type of song Marvin Gaye would be writing and performing if he were around today. With the notable absence of Bobby Brown, the band favors more laid-back cuts than on Home Again, favoring the sultry vocals courtesy of Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill to anchor many of the tracks. The production is focused, mature, and fitting for a group with the members nearing their forties, even when the lyrics aren't: "All on You" comes across as a desperate attempt to target the younger audience and hang on to the wild days of youth, while "Best Man" is textbook Timberlake. "Rewrite the Memories" is also quite an appropriately titled song -- as the opening piano line and chords appear to be based almost entirely on NE's classic "Can You Stand the Rain" and Force M.D.'s' "Tender Love," but that's actually quite fine as it's one of the best moments on the record and one of their finest ballads ever. All in all, it's a cohesive statement and another victory for a group with such a publicly documented and tumultuous career. It's also another jewel in the crown for Bad Boy, but here's hoping Diddy gets the guys back in the studio immediately. Seven years between New Edition records is far too long and is inexcusable. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After the careers of all of the former New Edition members stalled in the early '90s, the group reunited in 1996 for Home Again. All of the original members of the group plus Bobby Brown's replacement, Johnny Gill, participated in the reunion, and instead of turning into a gargantuan clash of egos, Home Again is surprisingly even-handed and consistent. Essentially, the album sounds like it was compiled from the highlights of each member's unreleased solo project -- most of the cuts are very good, with very little filler on the record at all. Granted, Home Again isn't a cohesive effort; it's pieced together with various producers (Sean "Puffy" Combs, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Gerald LeVert, etc.) and songwriters, but the consistency of the performances makes that issue a minor one. Simply put, none of the members have sounded so fresh since the late '80s. They might not be breaking any new ground on Home Again, but they prove they can deliver gangsta-inflected hip-hop, smooth soul, and new jack R&B with style. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This album marked New Edition's growth and maturity due in part to the production work of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the addition of group newcomer Johnny Gill. The first single from the much anticipated album was "If Isn't Love." With its percussive rhythm and frigid keyboard effects, Ralph Tresvant applies his rigidly smooth tenor to this mid-tempo dance cut. The single peaked at number two and seven on the Billboard R&B and pop charts, respectively. The second single, "You're Not My Kind of Girl," has a more grueling beat. In an up-tempo style and with its appealing melody, Tresvant imparts a urgent cry on this apologetic lyric. Gill enhances the track with his amplified background vocals and lyrical sighs. The single peaked at number two on the Billboard R&B charts. "Can You Stand the Rain" came next. Unlike any ballad the group has ever embraced, it sailed up the charts to the number one spot. Primarily led by Gill and Tresvant, whose vocals mutually complement one another, Ricky Bell injects his vocal plea, and Michael Bivins has a small rap part. With an aggressive rhythm, "Crucial" resembles more of a Minneapolis sound in the vein of the Time and Alexander O'Neal. That does not negate the substance of the song. It peaked at number four. The fifth single was "N.E. Heartbreak." From the staccato cadence of the verse to the reeling-style bridge to the energized vamp, the single had much to offer. It peaked at 13. Two unreleased notables are the ballads "I'm Coming Home" and "Boys to Men." This is a outstanding album overall. ~ Craig Lytle, All Music Guide
'Under the Blue Moon'
Release Date 11/24/1986
Tracks 10
Label MCA Records
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Changes were on the horizon for New Edition. They had become enormously successful by aping the Jackson 5, but were undergoing internal trauma as original member Bobby Brown bolted amid rumors of dissatisfaction with the group's direction. Under the Blue Moon featured their covers of '50s and '60s standards and was among early examples of the retro trend now so prominent in urban contemporary camps. While they didn't do this type of material nearly as well as the Force M.D.'s, they at least brought fresh attention to such songs as "Earth Angel" and "Tears on My Pillow." ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
'Christmas All over the World'
Release Date 1/1/1985
Tracks 6
Label MCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
A musical Christmas party, it features the title tune. ~ David A. Milberg, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
New Edition's voices and focus were changing in the late '80s. They'd moved away from the kiddie-pop/soul of the early '80s and were singing harder, adult love material and cutting uptempo funk tracks, although there weren't many of those on this session. While sometimes things got a bit sappy lyrically and seemed repetitive at other times, the group compensated with their strongest harmonies and vocal performances to date. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Maurice Starr's vision peaked with this second album by New Edition. They were now thoroughly Jackson 5 clones and were reaping similar commercial dividends thanks to the teen angst cuts "Cool It Now" and "Mr. Telephone Man." They earned their first platinum album, one Top Ten hit and another Top 20 pop single (both songs topped the R&B charts) and were among the hottest acts in either pop or R&B during this stretch. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
When Maurice Starr uncovered the talents of a Roxbury vocal group in the early '80s, he envisioned a second Jackson 5. That was the direction he took New Edition in its early days, and this album includes such overt Jackson 5 ripoffs as "Candy Girl" and the title track. None of the toughness or street touches that emerged on their later material was evident on this slick, pop-oriented session. Ralph Tresvant, Ronald DeVoe, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, and Bobby Brown were all aged 13 to 15 when this was released. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
