All-4-One - And the Music Speaks - Music & Performance - CD

All-4-One scored the biggest single of 1994 with "I Swear," a sweetly syrupy adult contemporary soul number. While they had a massive hit, they weren't able to carve out an identity with their debut album apart from "I Swear," as it was up to the follow-up, And the Music Speaks, to establish the group as more than one-hit wonders but it only partially succeeds. Musically, the album is stronger than the debut, featuring a better selection of songs. The group is more confident with their harmonies, showing off their gospel roots and still allowing themselves to get funkier than they have before. Nevertheless, the strength of the album remains in the ballads, where All-4-One can pull out all of their dramatic, romantic tricks, as they show on "I Can Love You Like That" and "These Arms." Despite these highlights, the group never is as distinguished or as charismatic as Boyz II Men, the clear leaders of laid-back romantic-'90s soul. Nevertheless, All-4-One have proven with And the Music Speaks that they are competent professionals, capable of turning out high-quality commercial soul on demand. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide