Of the six young men who have been part of the New Edition, Washington, D.C.-native Johnny Gill has far and away the best voice. And 1990's Johnny Gill is still the best album anyone connected with the New Edition has ever... more » made. Provocative revisits the formula of that triumph--handing over the creative responsibilities once again to the two hottest songwriter/producer teams in R&B, the macho Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and the romantic L.A. Reid and Babyface. This time, though, we get the formula instead of the triumph. All the pieces are there--the roof-rattling vocals, the industrial-strength beats, and the sumptuous synth harmonies--but there's no sense of a personality behind the machinery. Gill proves that he can growl and shout in sync with the slamming beats like any neo-disco-man, but Lewis's lyrics sound like the lines that single men on the prowl serve up in bars, and there's nothing in Gill's vocal to indicate that the words are anything but a line. Gill is still an impressive singer. "I Got You," written, produced, and sung by Boyz II Men, is blessed with appealing melodies and lush harmony singing, and "Long Way from Home" by L.A. Reid and Babyface is a truly romantic song that finds Gill finally opening up his heart to reassure a distant lover. He'll have to do that far more often if he wants to create the great soul music his voice makes possible. --Geoffrey Himes« less
Of the six young men who have been part of the New Edition, Washington, D.C.-native Johnny Gill has far and away the best voice. And 1990's Johnny Gill is still the best album anyone connected with the New Edition has ever made. Provocative revisits the formula of that triumph--handing over the creative responsibilities once again to the two hottest songwriter/producer teams in R&B, the macho Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and the romantic L.A. Reid and Babyface. This time, though, we get the formula instead of the triumph. All the pieces are there--the roof-rattling vocals, the industrial-strength beats, and the sumptuous synth harmonies--but there's no sense of a personality behind the machinery. Gill proves that he can growl and shout in sync with the slamming beats like any neo-disco-man, but Lewis's lyrics sound like the lines that single men on the prowl serve up in bars, and there's nothing in Gill's vocal to indicate that the words are anything but a line. Gill is still an impressive singer. "I Got You," written, produced, and sung by Boyz II Men, is blessed with appealing melodies and lush harmony singing, and "Long Way from Home" by L.A. Reid and Babyface is a truly romantic song that finds Gill finally opening up his heart to reassure a distant lover. He'll have to do that far more often if he wants to create the great soul music his voice makes possible. --Geoffrey Himes
"Johnny Gill has always been best at ballads and is easily regarded as one of the best balladers of all time. His follow up to his 1990 CD didn't impress me as much but he's in top form on track 6-10 where his smooth vocals and amazing range are best suited."
Will someone give this man a record deal?
Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 04/04/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Johnny Gill is a storm waiting too long to happen. Ever since his debut in the early eighties, his is a talent that has not been recognized by the masses. His modest successes as a solo artist, a duet partner (with Stacy Lattisaw), and a group member (New Edition) have yet to make him the superstar that he so richly deserves. The title of "Baby Luther" is warranted for he and Vandross share the same quality of interpreting a song."Provocative" shows Gill in a variety of formats, from dance ("The Floor") to romantic ballads ("Quiet Time to Play") to the sacred ("I Know Where I Stand"). It's on the latter that Gill presents a voice that is destined for the stage.A fun ditty is "A Cute, Sweet Love Addiction", written by Jam & Lewis, paying homage to Tyrone Davis's "If I Could Turn Back Time"."
A Fabulous Album
Reginald D. Garrard | 03/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this album, it is as good as his 1990 album. My favoorite songs are "A Cute, Sweet, Love Addition", "The Floor", "I Got You", "Provocative" and more. Johnny show a lot spunk and energy here, you can tell he is having a good time. They did a really great job on the production of this album, it whips azz compared to most pop/r&b around now. I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys soulful, funky, sexy, & smooth R&B."
Better Sounding than I remember............
Derek Johnson | United Kingdom | 04/06/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"and this could be for a number of reasons, but the main one being, to my mind the utter depths that the R&B world has sunk to in the 00s. I like many purchased this in the wake of his great CD (but not his debut) Johnny Gill. Like that CD, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis & LA & Babyface handle most of the production & writing on evidence (with a notable exception of Boys II Men on 'I Got You' with an excellent video to boot)
I remember at the time being a bit disappointed at this release. To the point that I gave/sold my copy. Big mistake. Alot of the early more up-tempo tracks have a new jack sound to them, that to anyone that knows me knows I love. Songs like: 'The Floor, the title track, Where No Man has gone before' to me sound vibrant & fresh. Add to this the sweet 'A Cute Sweet, Love addiction' and the early part of this CD is a winner.
Better known( particularly with the ladies) for his Ballads ( he also used to have Lady only Concerts), the latter part while well sung & produced, doesn't have the depth or quality as 'My My, My, or My Lady Dujour, and to my ears this is where this CD falls down.
For his voice alone, this man should still be producing music for the masses to hear. Like Tevin Campbell & Jason Weaver: Johnny Gill come back. How we miss you!
"
Good effort, though not as strong as Johnny Gill
Preston | nc | 03/13/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This album is good, but lacks the excitement of Johnny Gill from 1990. I liked the stomping feel of The Floor, the funky I Got You with Boyz II Men and the rapidly paced song Provocative. But my favorite is the ballad Tell Me How U Want It, which I still like to hum along to. It's really my second favorite ballad from Johnny after My, My, My. Very soothing and comforting song in its lush relaxing sound. The rest of the album is mostly filler and would have been better sung by an underrated R&B male singer struggling to get his single higher than No. 54 on the singles charts. But that's what it's like, when a stylistic artistically done song gets passed on by a commercially slick keep it to 3 minutes song. Johnny has made better songs than the filler that takes about 5 songs. It will take you days to figure this album out because of its unevenness."