Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Enhanced CD-ROM
Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Review
Even if Boyz II Men's third album Evolution didn't rival II in terms of commercial clout, the group was still inescapable. Every male urban vocal group that reached the pop and R&B charts were clearly indebted to the quartet's stylish blend of old-school harmony, post-Aretha hyper-vocalizing, and lite hip-hop beats. The group returned to action in the fall of 2000 with Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, a nearly eponymous title for their first full-fledged adult album. And, as adults, they've made sure they're responsible for their own music -- at least one member (usually all) has songwriting credits for all but two of the album's 14 songs, and the group is credited with all but four of the album's productions. Usually, when a popular group seizes control of their reins in such a dramatic fashion, the result is muddled to say the least, but a remarkable thing happens here -- the group succeeds. True, they don't expand on the formula they developed on II, but they do fulfill the expectations that album set. There are no unexpected twists or turns, just the standard lush ballads and swinging hip-hop soul, but it delivers both sonically and substantively. Not every cut on the record is a standout, but even the average cuts are pleasant, and the best of the batch are either seductive or effortlessly danceable. Also, the group is beginning to cut back on their vocal histrionics, resulting in a record that is truly their most mature yet. It might not be their best -- it doesn't have the powerhouse singles of II -- but Boyz II Men make up for it by demonstrating that they can do much of this on their own, and still sound like the standard-bearers for urban soul. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Boyz II Men (Vocals), William Ross (Conductor), Henri McMillan, Jr. (Trumpet), Herb Powers (Mastering), Dorothy Thornton (Vocals (Background)), Shae Jones (Vocals), Emma Kummrow (Strings), Tony Shepperd (Mixing), Durrell Bottoms (Engineer), Michael McCary (Executive Producer), Larry Gold (Arranger), Jamie Seyberth (Tracking), Nathan East (Bass), Shep Crawford (Drum Programming), Boyz II Men (Vocal Arrangement), Boyz II Men (Vocals (Background)), Mervyn Warren (Arranger), Ray Lubrana (Engineer), Serban Ghenea (Engineer), Nathan Morris (Executive Producer), Anne Catalino (Engineer), Olga Konopelsky (Strings), Kevin "KD" Davis (Mixing Engineer), Steve Macauley (Assistant), Andrew Eccles (Photography), Jim Bottari (Engineer), Tony Shepperd (Engineer), Igor Szwec (Strings), Brian Stover (Assistant), Shawn Stockman (Executive Producer), Derrick Scott (Guitar), Shawn Stockman (Vocals), Gregory Teperman (Strings), Greg Scott (Saxophone), Ricky Lawson (Drums), Nathan Morris (Vocals), William Ross (Arranger), Wanya Morris (Vocals), Johnny Lee (Art Direction), Charlene Kwas (Strings), Tom Bender (Assistant), Jimmy Russell (Guitar), Shep Crawford (Producer), Jamar Jones (Piano), Gary McKeen (Trumpet), Scott Frankfurt (Drum Programming), Anthony Velasquez (Hair Stylist), Louis Johnson (Wardrobe), Davis A. Barnett (Strings), Johnny Lee (Layout Design), Kenny Brown (Vocals (Background)), Jamar Jones (Arranger), Chris Ribando (Assistant), Manny Marroquin (Mixing), Robert Fernandez (Engineer), Bashiri Johnson (Percussion), Qadree el-Amin (Executive Producer), Michael Thompson (Guitar), Boyz II Men (Producer), Jon Gass (Mixing), Josh Martin (Assistant Engineer), Anne Catalino (Tracking), Alex Rodriguez (Engineer), Jamar Jones (Keyboards), Boyz II Men (Layout Design), Michael McCary (Vocals), Jim Hinger (Engineer), Brian Stover (Assistant Engineer), Shep Crawford (Keyboards), Sybil Pennix (Wardrobe), Alex Rodriquez (Engineer), Jay Williams (Guitar), Wanya Morris (Executive Producer), Patty Zimmitti (Orchestra Contractor), Dana Sorey (Vocals (Background)), Dave Foreman (Guitar), Rob Albano (Assistant), Steve Macauley (Mixing Assistant)
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya is a 2000 LP by R&B group Boyz II Men. It was their first LP on which they received more creative control, and their only LP for Universal Records. Its two singles, "Pass You By" and "Thank You in Advance", performed below expectations on the charts.[1]
