New Edition

Heart Break

NEW EDITION's FINEST HOUR - ENTER JOHNNY GILL

Review Score:

(10/10)
The Heartbreak album is a masterpiece. From head to toe, the album was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who already mastering 80s Black pop, had added New Jack Swing music to their skills. The similarly produced Janet Jackson album, "Rhythm Nation 1814" would be released the next year - but this album really marked Jam & Lewis' ability to transition into the 1990s. Not only was the production exciting, but the group added Johnny Gill, from Washington DC. His mature and husky voice was an excellent counterpoint to Ralph's softness and would be the template for the combo of K-Ci and JoJo's hard and soft vocals in Jodeci three years later.

The album opens up with an excellent intro that climaxes into the energetic and live sounding "That's The Way We're Living" in which Johnny makes his debut with soaring riffs that conclude the fanfare that opens the album. On "Where It All Started From", the excitement continues as every member gets their moment in the sun on this upbeat, fun track. (Which I think should be included on the soundtrack for their possible movie...) Then, N.E. gets intense on "If It Isn't Love" which is an urgent plea for love and understanding, and one of N.E.'s signature songs. The album continues consistently, with the title track, "N.E. Heartbreak" tying us over into "Crucial" and "You're Not My Kinda Girl" which were all released as singles during the Heartbreak campaign. Although the remixes of the previous three songs are better than the album versions, they are still good listens overall. Then, only on the CD version, the album seems to take a step back into the 'All For Love' era, with "Superlady", a bonus track that features the Double R Connection of Ricky Bell and Ralph Tresvant taking the helm. The saxophone solo in the middle of the song gives it a more bubblegum feel...but it is a welcome return and appropriate prelude to the work of sonic art to come next. Chirping birds introduce "Can You Stand the Rain?" and New Edition turns put their best performance on this one. Johnny and Ralph singing together reassure the listener that there is life (perhaps a better one) for New Edition after Bobby Brown's departure. With perfect timing, Ricky Bell scores a memorable solo in the middle of the song before Johnny bundles us up with his powerful, warm, and mature voice as the song fades into the rain.

Ralph leads his band of merry men into "Competition", a sweet, sincere and well meaning song that seems to have been recorded before Johnny Gill's arrival. Anyhow, the song is nice. On "I'm Comin' Home", New Edition serves up a quiet storm classic that utilizes Ralph, Ricky and Johhny very well. It is a jam best served in front of a warm fire, sipping hot cocoa with marshmallows under a warm blanket with your significant other. By this point on the album, there is no mistake that the boys have grown into men, and Johnny confirms this fact on the last song, "Boys To Men". It is a perfect ending to a perfect album with interludes that let you into the lives of New Edition. Whether they are fighting over a woman, rapping about Heartbreak, making fun of Johnny Gill or discussing homesickness, the spoken interludes fit in well with the album. Kudos to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for really blessing this one. The album is so special, four guys from Philly decided to name themselves after the last track - "Boyz II Men". Heartbreak is New Edition at their best.

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