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495 - II
#495: Boyz II Men - II (1994)
The Abrahams brace themselves for album #495: II by the R&B vocal powerhouse Boyz II Men. Abraham and AbraHAM immediately lock horns with Rolling Stone’s bizarre blurb, questioning the existence of "mammoth hits," "audaciously Baroque" tracks, and interludes that supposedly leave you "sobbing in the fetal position."
They dive into the Philadelphia group’s performing arts high school origins, their unique four-lead-singer dynamic, and the heavy-hitting production roster (including Babyface and his legendary run). However, technical perfection doesn't necessarily equal a great listening experience. The hosts vent their frustrations over the album's arbitrary sequencing, pandering spoken-word intros, and a 60-minute runtime that completely overstays its welcome—proving it's the absolute wrong soundtrack for packing up an apartment.
Is this the pinnacle of 90s R&B, or just "sexy music without the sex"? Why is there a woman speaking French on a track by guys from Philly? And most importantly, how did one of the hosts manage to completely misunderstand the lyrics to The Beatles' "Yesterday" for 30 years?
In This Episode
- (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records
- (00:01:20) - This Week's Album: #495, Boyz II Men - II
- (00:02:11) - Roasting the Blurb: "Mammoth Hits", "Audaciously Baroque", and Fetal Positions
- (00:05:18) - The Album Art & The Infuriating "II" Title Logic (It's their third album)
- (00:07:49) - Band Origins: Philly High School Choirs, Questlove, and Four Lead Singers
- (00:12:44) - Initial Impressions: Packing Anger and Arbitrary Album Sequencing
- (00:14:35) - Pandering Intros: "Jezebel" Subway Rides and Unexplained French in "All Around the World"
- (00:16:33) - Producer Spotlight: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Babyface's "Man Child" Past
- (00:22:23) - Track Attack: "Yesterday" (Why does this a cappella Beatles cover exist?)
- (00:24:20) - Tangent: 30 Years of Mishearing Paul McCartney's Lyrics
- (00:28:59) - Vocal Critique: Tempo Drops, Melismas, and Unnecessary Bloat
- (00:30:39) - "Sexy Music Without the Sex": Technical Perfection vs. R&B Rawness
- (00:32:25) - Track Attack: "Thank You" (Hip-Hop Doo-Wop & Imaginary Serving Trays)
- (00:36:06) - The EP Dilemma: A 60-Minute Album That Overstays Its Welcome
- (00:38:28) - The Final Verdict: Grammys vs. Artistry (and a plea for classic Motown)
About The Abraham Records
Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.
Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.
- Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
- Send us your hot takes: [email protected]
View all episodes
By Abraham#495: Boyz II Men - II (1994)
The Abrahams brace themselves for album #495: II by the R&B vocal powerhouse Boyz II Men. Abraham and AbraHAM immediately lock horns with Rolling Stone’s bizarre blurb, questioning the existence of "mammoth hits," "audaciously Baroque" tracks, and interludes that supposedly leave you "sobbing in the fetal position."
They dive into the Philadelphia group’s performing arts high school origins, their unique four-lead-singer dynamic, and the heavy-hitting production roster (including Babyface and his legendary run). However, technical perfection doesn't necessarily equal a great listening experience. The hosts vent their frustrations over the album's arbitrary sequencing, pandering spoken-word intros, and a 60-minute runtime that completely overstays its welcome—proving it's the absolute wrong soundtrack for packing up an apartment.
Is this the pinnacle of 90s R&B, or just "sexy music without the sex"? Why is there a woman speaking French on a track by guys from Philly? And most importantly, how did one of the hosts manage to completely misunderstand the lyrics to The Beatles' "Yesterday" for 30 years?
In This Episode
- (00:00:00) - Welcome to The Abraham Records
- (00:01:20) - This Week's Album: #495, Boyz II Men - II
- (00:02:11) - Roasting the Blurb: "Mammoth Hits", "Audaciously Baroque", and Fetal Positions
- (00:05:18) - The Album Art & The Infuriating "II" Title Logic (It's their third album)
- (00:07:49) - Band Origins: Philly High School Choirs, Questlove, and Four Lead Singers
- (00:12:44) - Initial Impressions: Packing Anger and Arbitrary Album Sequencing
- (00:14:35) - Pandering Intros: "Jezebel" Subway Rides and Unexplained French in "All Around the World"
- (00:16:33) - Producer Spotlight: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Babyface's "Man Child" Past
- (00:22:23) - Track Attack: "Yesterday" (Why does this a cappella Beatles cover exist?)
- (00:24:20) - Tangent: 30 Years of Mishearing Paul McCartney's Lyrics
- (00:28:59) - Vocal Critique: Tempo Drops, Melismas, and Unnecessary Bloat
- (00:30:39) - "Sexy Music Without the Sex": Technical Perfection vs. R&B Rawness
- (00:32:25) - Track Attack: "Thank You" (Hip-Hop Doo-Wop & Imaginary Serving Trays)
- (00:36:06) - The EP Dilemma: A 60-Minute Album That Overstays Its Welcome
- (00:38:28) - The Final Verdict: Grammys vs. Artistry (and a plea for classic Motown)
About The Abraham Records
Welcome to The Abraham Records, where we cover the 500 “greatest” albums of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, but certainly not according to us.
Join us on an odyssey of discovery to determine which albums are truly great and which ones will hurt your face.
- Listen & Subscribe: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-abraham-records
- Send us your hot takes: [email protected]