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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
N.E. at their best!, August 13, 2003
Being that I'm a die-hard new edition fan, 5 stars simply isn't enough for one of the best r&b albums of all time. It was even more influential because of the timing. New Jack Swing was still in its infancy and it's safe to say that Heart Break was a cornerstone album to cement new jack swing as the dominant genre of urban music in 1988. Returning to the album, Jam & Lewis (the production team), and New Edition were in prime form, as heard by Ralph, Ricky, and newcomer Johnny. They start off by telling you "That's the Way They're Livin'" after a lively introduction. They make you reminisce with them as they tell you "Where It All Started From".
Their first single, "If It Isn't Love", had success written all over it. Having a memorable chorus and top-notch production, "If It Isn't Love" nearly topped the r&b charts at #2 and did pretty well on the pop chart too, #7. Things get right down funky on "N.E. Heart Break" (2nd favorite track). All five members get in on the act, and in the process, peaking at #13 on the r&b chart. "Crucial" continues in dance mode, but is lighter sounding. It's still an enjoyable listen, peaking at #4 on the r&b chart. "You're Not My Kind of Girl" is a pleasing follow-up to crucial. It peaked at #3 on the r&b chart. "Superlady" rounds out the dance/new jack flava of the album.
"Can You Stand the Rain" introduces the ballad side of Heart Break. From the memorable chorus to Johnny's buttery vocals complimented with Ralph's smooth delivery, it was destined to top the charts, staying there for 2 weeks. "Competition", is New Edition at their best. Ricky, Ralph, and Ronnie compliment team up to deliver a smooth tune. It's my third favorite track and one that is usually overlooked in regards to first-rate NE tracks. "I'm Comin' Home" has a nice mid-tempo groove, which is just right for Ralph's quiet yet forceful delivery. Rounding out the album is the unforgettable assurance of "Boys to Men". This is my favorite track on the set with Johnny's smooth vocals complimented by Ralph's silky bridge. This is the epitomy of pure soul.
All in all, heart break is the best album new edition recorded. Their isn't any filler, which is hard to come by for R&B albums. Every song follows the next, which makes for an easy listen. For all of these qualities, this album will go down as one of the best albums of the new jack swing era and is first-rate R&B across all other urban genres (adult comtemporary, urban contemporary, classic soul). In other words, it is recommended for the casual r&b fan and essential for the casual new jack fan.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great talent showcased by great producers, August 4, 2006
Who would have ever thought that a small song done for a hum-drum movie would have led to such a classic pairing of performers and producers? Let me refresh your memories:
In 1987, the movie "Dragnet" starring Dan Akroyd and Tom Hanks hit the theatres. All in all, it was a sad remake of a classic TV show. The only bright spot was a song on the soundtrack, a song that showcased 4 performers who were trying to redefine themselves after so much childhood success. That group was New Edition, and the song was entitled "Helplessly In Love". The thing that made this song so different was its composition. Instead of bubble-gum lyrics over a poppy-synth track, it was done with tight harmonies and layered music. This sound, created by producing phenoms Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis led us to the breakout album "Heart Break".
Not content with letting NE rest on their previous laurels, Jam and Lewis set them free with the confident, brash swagger that accompanied the boys in the latter part of their teen years. Starting off with a strong statement in the song "That's the Way We're Livin'" and jumping just as strongly into "This Is Where It All Started" got the album off to a rollicking start. That's when J&L and NE gave everyone a taste of their newfound soulful sound with "If It Isn't Love". What a great song, and definitely still as fresh today as it was almost 20 years ago.
Some of the filler tracks like "Crucial" and "My Kind Of Girl" are good to keeep the mood going, and then the album gives us its first complete surprise.
Let me state for the record (and I'm a 40 year old guy who's heard a lot of music) that "Can You Stand The Rain" is one of the best songs ever written. Period. I listen to this song even today and it wells me up. Jam and Lewis use Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill so effectively on the leads with Mike, Ricky and Ronnie backing them up with tightly layered vocals that anyone wanting to do a single song study of how to put together an R&B song could use this as a model. "Coming Home" slows the mood down even more to get us ready for "Boys To Men". Another great, unexpectedly soulful rendition.
I bought this album in New Jersey soley on the strength of "If It Isn't Love", and listened to it start to finish twice on my drive back to the Northern Virginia area. It still has a place near my CD player, and many of the songs occupy a place in my heart. There are probably 3 albums to purchase if you ever want to completely experience the genious of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; Hearsay by Alexander O'Neal, Affair by Cherelle, and this one. It is not to be missed.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential New Editon, Boys No More, August 18, 2005
In Tresvant and Gill, however, N.E. had a pair of singers blessed with creamy tenor voices who could both take the lead. And lead they d0. What catches the ear first in their finest moment, the single "You're Not My Kind of Girl," however, isn't the singing, but the production tricks in the song's intro. Listen with headphones, and hear the channel-jumping "you're very pretty"s going back and forth, buried in the mix. And then what's done with the "sorry"s, toyed and toggled into submission, almost cut and scratched, but not quite, with accomplished singer Johnny Gill riffing all over it. The track is purely synthetic, of its moment but never sounding too dated. But "Girl"'s coup de grace is the twist I didn't notice until very recently: not only is Ralph singing lead, he's got Johnny backing him up on the verses, adding a deep, delicious harmony. Ralph's voice is strong and urgent, reminiscent of Michael Jackson's coo at moments (such as his "giiii-iiirl" which opens the second verse like a waterfall)from Johnny, before he and Ralph go over and over "you're not my, you're not, you're not, my kind..." as the song closes on itself. And did you hear that, buried in the second chorus? It's a spine tingling experience. BBD do their standing-on-the-corner-rappin'-with-the-fellas thing for the bridge, and then it's onto the third chorus, vamping its way out, but not before one last, thrilling "Wooo! More than simply back up but talented and accomplished entertainers in their own right. Heartbreak is the last album to give eternal fans a little bit of the old NE and an sexy introduction to the men of New Edition. This album is the best of both worlds. This is an essential R&B and should be in every serious record collectors bin.
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