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
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Beautiful Women
Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, Kandi Burruss
Johnny Lee (Layout Design), Boyz II Men (Vocals), Boyz II Men (Vocals (Background)), Boyz II Men (Producer), Boyz II Men (Main Performer), Boyz II Men (Vocal Arrangement), Boyz II Men (Layout Design), Dave Foreman (Guitar), Davis A. Barnett (Strings), Bashiri Johnson (Percussion), Kenny Brown (Vocals (Background)), Nathan East (Bass), Robert Fernandez (Engineer), Scott Frankfurt (Drum Programming), Jon Gass (Mixing), Larry Gold (Arranger), Jim Hinger (Engineer), Louis Johnson (Wardrobe), Ricky Lawson (Drums), Manny Marroquin (Mixing), Michael McCary (Vocals), Michael McCary (Executive Producer), Gary McKeen (Trumpet), Henri McMillan, Jr. (Trumpet), Nathan Morris (Vocals), Nathan Morris (Executive Producer), Wanya Morris (Vocals), Wanya Morris (Executive Producer), Herb Powers (Mastering), Alex Rodriguez (Engineer), Tony Shepperd (Engineer), Tony Shepperd (Mixing), Shawn Stockman (Vocals), Shawn Stockman (Executive Producer), Brian Stover (Assistant Engineer), Brian Stover (Assistant), Anthony Velasquez (Hair Stylist), Mervyn Warren (Arranger), Jay Williams (Guitar), Serban Ghenea (Engineer), Tom Bender (Assistant), William Ross (Arranger), William Ross (Conductor), Sybil Pennix (Wardrobe), Jamie Seyberth (Tracking), Olga Konopelsky (Strings), Emma Kummrow (Strings), Charlene Kwas (Strings), Alex Rodriquez (Engineer), Igor Szwec (Strings), Gregory Teperman (Strings), Patty Zimmitti (Orchestra Contractor), Derrick Scott (Guitar), Jimmy Russell (Guitar), Anne Catalino (Engineer), Anne Catalino (Tracking), Josh Martin (Assistant Engineer), Dorothy Thornton (Vocals (Background)), Durrell Bottoms (Engineer), Andrew Eccles (Photography), Shae Jones (Vocals), Ray Lubrana (Engineer), Steve Macauley (Mixing Assistant), Steve Macauley (Assistant), Jamar Jones (Piano), Jamar Jones (Arranger), Jamar Jones (Keyboards), Shep Crawford (Keyboards), Shep Crawford (Producer), Shep Crawford (Drum Programming), Qadree el-Amin (Executive Producer), Jim Bottari (Engineer), Dana Sorey (Vocals (Background)), Chris Ribando (Assistant), Michael Thompson (Guitar), Rob Albano (Assistant), Kevin "KD" Davis (Mixing Engineer), Greg Scott (Saxophone), Johnny Lee (Art Direction)
"Thank You in Advance"
Released: December 12, 2000
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]
