Love (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

After more than twenty years together, Boyz II Men have earned their stripes as R&B harmony legends. The group’s staying power is based on their constant focus on the music more than the gimmicks, and Love is testament to the group’s belief that an album’s power relies on the quality of the material, and the sincerity of the performance. You won’t find a more diverse collection of songs than this. The Boyz tackle everything from Bonnie Raitt (“I Can’t Make You Love Me”) to the Goo Goo Dolls (“Iris”) to Journey (“Open Arms”). They try their hardest to avoid soul music clichés, and instead illuminate the soulfulness of unexpected genres. Who knew that Lonestar’s country ballad “Amazed” would be a perfect fit for the group that wrote “Motownphilly?” In an era when R&B has become reliant on stunts and sex, it’s refreshing to hear an album built on storytelling and earnestness. In the end, however, Boyz II Men will always be about the voices, and an acapella rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” proves that when it comes down to it, nothing more is needed.