Boyz II Men
Collide
**
End of the road?
As a big Boyz II Men fan, it’s quite painful to have to dissect Collide. The men have come a long way and still hold a record as one of the most successful groups of all time, based on sales alone.
It’s almost three decades since we first heard the new jack swing sound and it is understandable for Boyz II Men to be confused about what sound to pursue today. No one is really playing R&B at the club and radio is shying away from it too, unless you are Chris Brown or Tinashe. The departure of their bass singer, Michael S McCary, also makes it obvious that the group are not the same as before. Inspired by New Edition and directed by Babyface and LA Reid, Boyz II Men etched a sound that made them untouchable. Now that they are on their own, writing what they deem is their sound, it is really hard to reconcile it with the old supergroup. Even their “Thank You’s” on the sleeve are full of rants and justifications about why they have gone this route, a thing we have never known the model singers to do.
Their previous album, Love, had the right ingredients, but on Collide a lot of chances were taken, resulting in a collision of ideas.
Strictly for the fan. – Munya Vomo