Album Review:
Poison
- Release Date: 1990
- Genre: Rhythm & Blues
- Label: MCA
- Total Time: 47:28
- Artist: Bell Biv DeVoe
- Rating:
- Styles: New Jack Swing, Urban
- Track Picks: "Do Me!," "Poison," "When Will I See You Smile Again?"
- Similar Albums:
New Jack City , Born to Sing, Benet, Always in the Mood, Womanchild, It's About Time, Funky Divas, I'll Give All My Love to You,Take It to the Floor , C.M.B., T.E.V.I.N., Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know
Review
With so many faceless, sound-alike albums having come out of the "new jack swing" hybrid in the late '80s and early to mid-'90s, it's important to give credit to the form's more creative and imaginative figures. Along with Guy and Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe (a New Edition spin-off trio comprised of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe) delivered some of new jack swing's most worthwhile material. A hard-edged, tough-minded blend of R&B/funk and hip-hop, Poison was (like Brown's Don't Be Cruel) a radical departure from the Jackson 5-influenced "bubblegum soul" New Edition was originally known for. Defined by their urgency, rawness, and vitality, "Poison," "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?," "Dope!," and "Do Me!" are considered new jack swing classics and are indeed among the best the style has to offer. Taking a break from the CD's overall aggression, BBD moves closer to New Edition's sound with the decent, though far from outstanding, ballads "When Will I See You Again?" and "I Do Need You." While other "new jacks" were content to simply emulate Guy, the distinctive BBD deserves applause for daring to stake out its own territory. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | iTunes | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Dope! | Elliot Straite | Bell Biv DeVoe | (3:44) | |
| B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)? |  |
Darrol Durant, Keith Shocklee, Paul Stewart, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler | Bell Biv DeVoe | (4:35) |
| Let Me Know Something?! | |
Darrol Durant, Keith Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler | Bell Biv DeVoe | (4:40) |
| Do Me! | |
Michael Bivins, Carl Bourelly, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell | Bell Biv DeVoe | (4:33) |
| Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny (Word to the Mutha)! | Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell | Bell Biv DeVoe | (4:30) | |
| Poison | |
Elliot Straite | Bell Biv DeVoe | (4:22) |
| Ain't Nut'in' Changed | Darrol Durant, Keith Shocklee, Hank Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler | Bell Biv DeVoe | (3:30) | |
| When Will I See You Smile Again? | |
Timmy Gatling, Alton "Wokie" Stewart | Bell Biv DeVoe | (5:08) |
| I Do Need You | |
Timmy Gatling | Bell Biv DeVoe | (4:36) |
| Poison [Extended Club Version][*] | Elliot Straite | Bell Biv DeVoe | (7:50) |
