Customer Reviews

Always & Forever

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 90s were a wonderful time for R&B. Probably half of my entire R&B collection is from the 90s. It was a time of good music. Male groups like Boyz II Men, Jodeci, and Dru Hill made a name for themselves during that time. But my, how the mighty have fallen! Boyz II Men lost their touch after awhile, Jodeci fizzled away despite having three solid albums, and Dru Hill suffered from the backlash of Sisqo's "Thong Song" and never quite recovered. But some male R&B groups struggled more than others, and Silk was one of those who just couldn't keep afloat. Their dynamic debut Lose Control still gets rotation in my stereo every now and then. But things fell apart for awhile after that. They did manage to go platinum with Tonight, but every album since then barely made a blip on the radar. Now without their main man Lil G holding down the lead singing, Silk resorts to a lackluster covers album titled Always and Forever that nobody will want to bother with.

Things seem promising at first glance with the surprisingly good cover of Switch's "There'll Never Be" and Prince's "Adore." Their rendition of Heatwave's "Always and Forever" will sound a little off for those who loved the original. "Don't Disturb This Groove" is a song originally sung by The System, but after listening to Silk's version...it becomes apparent that it should have stayed that way. The same can be said for their take on Al B. Sure's "Nite And Day" and Blue Magic's "Side Show" (the latter also appeared on their previous album Silktime).

Just when you think it can't get any worse, you hear their cover of Michael Jackson's "Lady In My Life," a song that didn't sound good when Marc Nelson of Az Yet tried his hand at it for his solo album Chocolate Mood. "A Night To Remember" isn't anywhere as electrifying as when Shalamar did it. "Secret Garden" is just as unimpressive, while their rendition of The Deele's "Two Occasions" is a sigh of relief only because its the last track and the end of the verbal assault on your ears.

I loved Silk in the past, but Always and Forever is nothing more than an irrational exploitation of songs that are certified classics to most R&B lovers. To put a twist on a popular saying....if you don't have any skills to sing, don't sing anything at all!

This is one of their best CD's. The haters need to listen again. There is no other RnB group who can sing as smooth as Silk can. They weave the harmonies into a tapestry of excellence.

Each member of the group gets to shine, and each member has taken it to the next level. You get to hear Jimmy's smooth voice on lead vocals on several tracks, and he sounds better than ever. Big G also sings a number of leads and sounds better than ever. I think Big G shows on this album that he has what it takes to be a star and a lead singer in his own right. Tim even sings lead vocals on Secret Garden, something he's never done before (except for the Silk Christmas CD), and he sounds great. And John- he has outdone himself. John is my favorite RnB singer- and on this album he has soared to new heights. Never Be, Adore, Always and Forever, Lady in My Life, Secret Garden, and Two Occasions all showcase John as THE premier RnB singer.

The only track I don't care for on this record is Night to Remember. The rest are good - and the songs I just listed above are classics.

the thing about Silk is they came up in the "gangster rap"-dominated
90's so they had a street edge but also they also could really sing! Everybody remembers their biggest hit "Freak Me" and their baby-making jams,
but sometimes it got lost in the shuffle that they were probably the best
male vocal r & b group to come up in the 90's--more exciting than Boyz2Men,
better harmonies than Troop, more hits than Shai, you get the picture. So here's Silk bringing the Silk touch to brand-new set of (mostly) slow jams of classic R & B tunes ranging from "Sideshow" and "Adore", which if you've been to their recent shows, you know they've been singing these for awhile, to" "A Secret Garden" and a beautiful version of "Always & Forever." This is the Silk you know and love doing a great job on great songs you know and
love! Welcome back, guys!

This album is simply what it is, a well done cover album. Silk has done all of these tracks justice. No one is suggesting that they are as good as the originals nor will they ever replace the original versions but this is a good sidestep to hear classic tunes with a different spin. Too many reviewers here are acting as if by covering Always and Forever it will make Heatwave's version go away. That will NEVER happen so enjoy this for what it is and stop acting as if a crime has been committed. Boys II Men did a cover album (Throwback)and the earth is still spinning. Prince even covered the Stlystics. I'm just glad Silk is still out there and look forward to their next work, cover album or not.

I must admmit, I was really excited to hear good old Silk from the 90's come back (kind of like the new Boys 2 Men), however, once I heard the first track.....I became very disappointed.

The good thing about classic R&B is that they are timeless and really don't need other renditions, especially bad ones. So, Silk should have known better, that's just like Willy Hong making recreating "Freak Me"---BAD, BAD, BAD.

Like my husband said...someone should start a class action suit against Silk for this album.

R&B group Silks returns with their sixth album and second without former lead singer Lil G. Surprisingly Silk handles this album of cover songs very well. Hooking up with Shanachie, a label noteworthy for great R&B influence, smooth jazz, and creating great old-school R&B cover albums, was the perfect home for the group to record Always and Forever. The opening track Switch's There'll Never Be is decent although I would have rather heard the group do Calling On All Girls by Switch. Prince Adore's, Heatwave's Always & Forever, Quincy Jones's The Secret Garden and The System's Don't Disturb This Groove are all excellent covers songs that would make the original singers proud. There are two mild disappointments which are the group's attempt at Al B. Sure's Nite & Day (personally they should have re-made Al B's Naturally Mine or Ooh This Love Is So) and Shalimar's A Night To Remember (Let's Find The Time For Love or Somewhere There's A Love would have better). All in all a great cd.

I loved the CD overall. Most impressive was Jon Jon's Prince impersonation I'll call it of 'Adore.' He more than has the chops to fool anyone who didn't know better. I think Silk shines when they are themselves and not conscious of trying to pass them selves off at times as the originals...where they are the most successful I think are "They'll Never Be" and "The Lady In My Life." "Secret Garden" is pretty painful. Like "Nite and Day" and "Don't Disturb" they were too songs that in my opinion just DON'T lend themselves out for reinterpretation...WHOEVER the culprit is.
I haven't been able to stop playing this one. I disagree with the first critique of the LP. I think he's being a bit harsh but, we all have different ears I guess.
My only other tidbit is I did like the new interpretation of "Sideshow" and glad they decided to revisit that track.
SILK forever!!!!!

I have always loved Silk since their first CD. They've always displayed an authentic R&B sound and this CD is exactly what I expected it to be. I usually don't like remakes of songs as the original is always way better but in this case I have to say Silk does the classics justice.

i don't know what charles l. hubbert is talking about, but he got it all wrong, if he does reviews for a living, he needs to be fired, any way, this is a good cd, i have never brought a silk cd until this one, and what got me was the remakes, i was very much impress, i think they should have left "there never be" by switch alone, i think u will skip over that, but the others, high props, "always and forever" will almost bring water to your eyes they did it so good, u will find yourself going back down memory lane with this cd, i find it to sound better in the car than in the house, get this cd, u will love it, bet that.

I just purchased Always and Forever by Silk. These brothers are acting up! The harmony is second to none. I have been down with Silk since day one. This album is the best. The remake of Adore and Secret Garden is the jam. Silk takes you back to a time when you used to be able to turn on the radio and people could REALLY sing. Get this in your collection. You will not be disappointed. Silk NEVER disappoints. True talent, True music. Keena C. Detroit, Michigan