New Edition

Home Again

Surprisingly Average.

Review Score:

(6/10)
Had this been the debut release of another r&b vocal group, "Home Again" might have gotten 4 stars. But because it's from New Edition, I expected a way better record than this. The brothas from Roxbury hit the artistic peak of their career with the excellent Jam & Lewis-produced "Heart Break." 8 years and a handful of solo projects followed before they reunited with original member Bobby Brown for "Home Again." I had hoped for a mature step forward, but what I got was a trendy, run-of-the-mill "reunion" album with few surprises. No doubt, there are a handful of good tunes, here. I really liked the James Brown-sampled title track, as well as the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Shop Around" (no, not THAT "Shop Around"). And the slow jam "How Do You Like Your Love Served" works pretty well. But the rest of the album chases after r&b trends and fads that sound near-ridiculous for a group whose members were pushing thirty. Producer Puff Daddy provides beat-heavy hip hop grooves that would suit a younger artist (such as "Try Again"), but seem out of place for a group of seasoned pros like New Edition. These guys had a great opportunity to come back with an album that would serve as a livelier alternative to the blandness of Boyz II Men. But alas, no such luck. To quote an old saying, "sometimes, you just can't go home again."

More Reviews: