by Alex Henderson
With so many faceless, sound-alike albums having come out of the &new jack swing& hybrid in the late '80s and early to mid-'90s, it's important to give credit to the form's more creative and imaginative figures. Along with Guy and Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe (a New Edition spin-off trio comprised of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe) delivered some of new jack swing's most worthwhile material. A hard-edged, tough-minded blend of R&B/funk and hip-hop, Poison was (like Brown's Don't Be Cruel) a radical departure from the Jackson 5-influenced &bubblegum soul& New Edition was originally known for. Defined by their urgency, rawness, and vitality, &Poison,& &B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?,& &Dope!,& and &Do Me!& are considered new jack swing classics and are indeed among the best the style has to offer. Taking a break from the CD's overall aggression, BBD moves closer to New Edition's sound with the decent, though far from outstanding, ballads &When Will I See You Again?& and &I Do Need You.& While other &new jacks& were content to simply emulate Guy, the distinctive BBD deserves applause for daring to stake out its own territory.