7...

Mint Condition | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B004NCOQZG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,370 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2011 release from the Minnesota-based R&B outfit, released to coincide with their 20th Anniversary. The songs on 7 run the gamut from their signature love ballads through Funk and Soul tracks with touches of Jazz and Rock. Features the singles 'Caught My Eye' and 'Not My Daddy' (featuring Kelly Price).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Return of THE Band...Welcome Back M.C.!!, April 5, 2011

By 

chakasworld "chakasworld" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 7... (Audio CD)

The new '7' CD is typical Mint Condition...Songs with tight instrumentation & are on point lyrically. I applaud them for staying true to the RARE art of creating REAL music. No cheap sampling, no hip hop duets, autotune or other lame studio enhancements here. Needless to say, fans of this band will be more than happy with '7'. There are quite a few highlights that I enjoy including 'Walk On', 'Mind Slicker', 'Caught My Eye', 'Ease The Pain', and 'Not My Daddy' (Duet with Kelly Price). I purchased the Deluxe Edition of '7' from Best Buy, which includes 5 stellar BONUS TRACKS..'Whatchu Want', 'Cupid's Hunt', 'Bless A Woman & A Man', PLUS LIVE VERSIONS of 'Nothin Left To Say' & 'I'm Ready'. Fans of Mint Condition (or REAL music in general) will enjoy this CD!!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mint Condition plays it straight on "7...", April 5, 2011

By 

Lucky Sevens "music aficianado" (Tiger Town, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 7... (Audio CD)

Mint Condition was a bit of an anomaly in the New Jack Swing era. They were one of the only few bands that were a self-contained unit- being the sole writers, producers and performers of their own material. Since their debut in 1991, the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis proteges have amassed a significant body of work and singles that are considered quiet storm favorites. Over the years, they have had moderate success with two Gold singles (1992's "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)" and 1996's "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?"), and one Gold album (Their third album "Definition Of A Band"). With the success came an equal amount of setbacks, such as Jam & Lewis' Perspective Records shutting down shortly before the release of "Definition Of Band", and the label's parent company, A&M Records, also being shut down due to a corporate merger a mere two years later. They then embarked on a short-lived union with Elektra Entertainment for the release of 1999's underpromoted "Life's Aquarium". Six years would pass between albums and by the time they released their 2005 album "Livin' The Luxury Brown", they were on the indie label Image Entertainment, and the sextet dwindled to a quintet due to the departure of member Keri Lewis. After the release of "E-Life" in 2008, they laid low for a few years and resurfaced with a new album in 2011.

Their newest effort "7..."- named for being their seventh studio album in their 20 year career- is their first offering on their new label Shanachie Entertainment. On this new album, they decide to tone things down and show a little restraint- which means that it's a straight to the point R&B album with no interludes, no songs experimenting with other genres, and no long winded jam sessions. The album starts opens with "Can't Get Away", a funky ballad about a man infatuated with a woman that's up to no good. They switch things up with the synth heavy uptempo "I Want It", while they contemplate ending a relationship on the ballad "Walk On". On the single "Caught My Eye", Stokely sings about approaching a woman who has fancied his attention. They retrace their two decade career on the title track "7...", while they pay tribute to mothers on "Unsung". Their duet with Kelly Price "Not My Daddy" is a slightly altered version of the song that was leaked to the internet earlier this year. The album ends with "20 Years Later", a story of a man who continues to burn bridges even as he grows older. Overall, this album is probably the most restrained album that Mint Condition has ever done, and it's also their shortest in their entire catalogue. It also serves as a reminder that they are still capable of creating quality material after all these years.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mint Condition Forever!!!, May 10, 2011

By 

TexasGurl08 (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 7... (Audio CD)

This album is great! I don't know how these guys keep doing it after being around for so long. They are consistent and write some of the best lyrics I have ever heard. Some of my favorites are "Mind Slicker", "Caught my Eye", "Can't Get Away" and "Not My Daddy". The bonus tracks with the live performances are a great addition to the album. Stokley still has it after all these years! His voice and range are crazy! Well done Mint Condition! Keep giving us real music! Maybe all this crappy, mainstream stuff will fade away soon.