Silk

The fact that this Atlanta-based harmony quartet is now on an indie label just a few years after multi-platinum success shows that R&B has moved on from the days when Boyz II Men-inspired groups were all the rage. That doesn't mean that these groups don't still have some happy crooning to do, and this disc, while a bit too reliant on sonic tricks behind the core vocalizing that is worth the price of admission, is solid proof. One of the most impressive tracks is "You (The Baby Song)," which features a passionate high-register lead vocal over the others' lush backing. The song builds dramatically with the help of synths, but tries to be too clever production-wise with all sorts of extraneous sounds. Another slice of hard to resist nostalgia is the title track, which achieves the same vocal magic amidst modern groove crunching and retro-minded floating keyboard effects. The boys are banking on the fact that their old fans will want to hear the wonderful ensemble vocalizing even when the production is trying too hard to be post-millennial. If they want to keep the harmony thriving, next time they should try something more organic. [The album was also issued in a clean version.] ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide