Customer Reviews

7...

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!!

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.

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.

This is as creative as the "Mint" has been in a while. The band does hold back on some songs, you can tell that in a live setting, these songs are gonna be something good for the earhole. They continue not to be jaded by the industry. I have always liked the fact they they don't try hard to be mainstream. This is something a lot of other bands should try. I miss the wide open approach they had with the "Definition of a Band or Life's Aquarium".
The band does continue to show their creative side. I just want more of it. I like the songs "Mind Slicker" nice groove cut, also "Ease the Pain", there is also, "I Want It" which could have been Part1 of "I want it Again" with a twist. "Walk On" is a nice ballad, the same can be said for "20 Years later". I do miss the early energy of the band. I remember when the opened for Janet Jackson back in the day, I knew they were special. I am also glad they did not comprimise their musical integrity. Too bad though they don't get the "AIRPLAY" they deserve, as they are one of the last great R&B bands of the last 20 Years. So if you like their previous works, add this to the collection. Now I want a danceable CD from them one more time. Overall, this is a great cd. I really like the "Live cuts" they give you an insight to what they are all about. Great vocal band, would like to get another 20 years of music out of them

this album does not disappoint as some other reviews have said, that's what "stuck in rut" type people say, they think because the artist evolves or give the fans another part of themselves not previously exposed, that the band or artists have "fallen off" or "let them down", when actually we should take that opportunity to look at ourselves for all that we offer the world, get out the rut.

now, the album is a banger "from start to finish"! i have been a musician for over 23 years, i have written, created, performed etc. but these guys EVOLVE!!! which is what i love about them, they don't rehash by giving you the same album with a different name on the cover. they push their fans to explore new and different ideas. MC is the last TRUE band and any real fan should appreciate the fact that they love us and music so much that they keep giving us what we need...REAL MUSIC considering what is being offered up by so called artists today. the industry hates creativity nowadays it's more like how many beyonces, justin beibers or lady gagas can we shove down people's throats and convince them it's real music, and they get the spins on the radio, and the awards, while real creativity and TALENT goes unrewarded, until the fans say, I APPRECIATE YOU! that's MC's grammy. if they have to water themselves down to get accepeted by the masses i would rather them just stop all together. listen to albums ONE through SEVEN and enjoy the EVOLUTION OF THE MINT!

BUY THIS, BUY THIS, BUY THIS!

Over the years when I think about listening to the band, I always go online and check to see if they've released anything new...Since way back in the day of "Meant To Be Mint," when the fellas release their talented albums, I'm anxious like a kid at a birthday party, to hear them jam like they've always done. Well, today was one of those days. It's Friday and I was chillin at work, boss was out for the day, and I was leaving early, so I happened to go to Amazon, and discovered MC has given us 7. My day couldn't have ended any better because I started clicking through the samples and by the time I got through "Caught My Eye," I was hooked and I couldn't take the credit card out fast enough to download the album. I was like, damn as soon as these are done, I'm burning it to CD for the ride home...Got a tell you, it just added more style and class for those at the stop lights that got a sample of their new sound through the sun roof. Got to hand it to them once again, they rebounded from their previous "Elife" production. I never purchased that one as I couldn't embrace the fact Mint was changing their tune and sound, but they haven't skipped a beat with instrumentation and style they've always given us over the years, and this one is no different. Nice job fellas, I'll be playing this one everyday for weeks!!

"7" is the appropriately titled new album from Mint Condition, a quintet that, unfortunately, has not received the superstar status that it deserves. This is probably due to the fact that the band is just too good for the average radio listener. This album may change that because it is, without a doubt, the group's most commercially-accessible release.

The songs on this set run the gamut from the group's trademark ballads to tunes that make you want to get on the dance floor. Front man Stokely Williams has never sounded better and he is especially in fine form on "Not My Daddy," the duet with guest Kelly Price, "Caught My Eye," the title cut, "Unsung," and the thought-provoking "Twenty Years Later." The Latin-influenced "Bossalude" really showcases the group's versatility and should attract a new audience of Condition fans.

However, those tracks are equally matched by the other nine powerful selections, providing a listening experience that is destined to satisfied long time followers and "newbies" alike.

For a group that has been around for twenty years, the members of Mint Condition sound as fresh as they did when they burst on the scene with such early 90's hits "Breaking My Heart(Pretty Brown Eyes)" and "U Send Me Swinging."

This album in my opinion is close to perfect where music needs to be. I'm a true Mint fan and hold them to a higher standard and they came through. If you like classic R&B don't miss out. Make sure you get the one with the bonus tracks amazing.

In this quest for real music these days, it is VERY hard to find anything not 'produced' by a hip-hop DJ using the same old beats, arrangements that are devoid of horns, strings and bass. All we hear from today's 'music' is "boom, boom - boom, boom!" Hardly music.

The hip-hop is boring and all they talk about is selling drugs, using drugs, getting sex, wanting sex and killing. You had rappers who were born that way, not you have actors being made and acting like rappers (Drake). So, when you want real music, their are not many avenues to turn to. You can run from the 'hip-hop' but when you go to R&B, all you get is a singing (barely) version of the hip-hop with the same old beats that sound home made. If you want to go to rock to get away, you can't find that either, just organized 'jammin' without any singers or musicians.

So... It is refreshing that an actual BAND like Mint Condition can come out during these rough times of convergence on the sound (rap sounds like R&B, R&B sound like rap and both sound like pop) to bring some true R&B out! The best part is - you hear REAL instruments that was made from the mind and not a sample! Who would have thought that instruments would be played out?

From the opening cut I knew and was hoping that this album would help ease the pain of this current state of 'music' and give me something that I can enjoy and it did! The songs have strong beats, but they sound better because they made them up! The songs are great and not simply singers trying to be like or act like rappers. Yeah, they incorporate a little of this computer beat style to relate it to what get's played - but only a little.

As the album goes on, it gets better and better. You clearly see the benefits of having a band do music instead of a hip-hop DJ. You hear it in the sound quality and arrangements, which are lacking in the hip-hop DJ. I also like the fact that their skit consists of a musical break that brings back actual MUSIC instead of a joke or a sample. You get reacquainted with musical variety instead of hip-hop DJ monotony.

The only song on here that is not good is the title track "7." However, even that is better than a lot of what you hear on the radio. I like the fact that they vary the subject matter and it is not about shakin it in the club or doing someone. I highly recommend this album. I hope that actual bands with actual musicians comes back in R&B and rock. I prefer my R&B without the hip-hop.

I love this band! They giv eme the variety I need from a band. So glad they are persevering in the industry. I will see them in May 2012 when they come to the DMV area.