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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Harmony ( In Ballads Only ), July 15, 2002
All-4-One hopped on the music scene in 1994 and gave Boyz II Men a run for their money. With their blend of great 4-part harmonies as well as a touch of R&B, their style went together very well and was very accepted. In their self-titled début album, they try a lot of music styles. Some turned out pretty good, but some might be just brave attempts. Here is the track-by-track review:-1) So Much In Love ( 2nd Single ):- A classic hit remade with a little bit of modern touch. Sung à cappella, this song truly displays the best of their vocal abilities. Very nicely done. However, the monologue in the middle of the song might make some people shudder. 2) Oh Girl:- A typical slow ballad about a man's devotion to a woman. Not bad, but it might be a little plain to turn into a memorable tune like the previous track. 3) A Better Man:- Another à cappella ballad that sounds very enjoyable because all four of their voices blend together so well. Sometimes, you might forget that the only background accompaniment is their voices! 4) I Swear ( 1st Single ):- The hit that made the group famous & there's a reason why. This is a fabulous tune that has a fabulous melody, memorable lyrics, and great vocal displays. Quite clearly, the best song on this album. 5) Down To The Last Drop:- A syrupy ballad that is better than "Oh, Girl" but still, lacks that little bit of magic of "I Swear" Still, this song is very listenable. 6) Without You:- A slightly different twist. This song has a heavier beat as well as more of a R&B feel to it than the previous tracks. Once again, the melody is a little bit bland and simple. Feels like it's been done. 7) ( She's Got ) Skillz:- A daring attempt at a light hip-hop tune. The song itself is not bad, but their performance leaves a lot to be desired. The leading voice sort of sounds like Justin Timberlake trying to sing hip-hop now... dreadful. The lyrics might have something to do with it as well: "Yum, yum, eat it up. I think I'm in love"? Hmm... corny! 8) Breathless:- The musical arrangement to this song sounds similar to "Without You" The vocal arrangements make them sound like exactly like the title suggests, they're out of breath! Another brave attempt... but the results were a little bit scary. 9) Something About You:- One of the more successful attempt at light hip-hop. Their voices are not as squeaky and less "Justin-like" as the previous 2 tracks. As well, the melody is a lot nicer than the others are. 10) The Bomb:- This will definitely remind you of an early corny Backstreet Boys fast song. Let's just leave it at that. 11) Here If You're Ready:- Sort of like an Usher song now, but written and arranged 8 years ago. ( Remember, I'm writing this review in 2002, and this album was released in 1994 ) This song is so-so, but is a lot better compared to their other R&B attempts. To sum it up, if you are going to buy this album, definitely listen to tracks 1-5 ( "So Much In Love"& "I Swear" alone is enough to give this album 4 stars! ). As for the rest, you may want to give them a try, maybe you'll like them. However, I do recommend this album, because it is still better than all of the boybands are nowadays. As least All-4-One can SING!
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