Much has changed since Teddy, Aaron, and Damon lit up our house parties back in the day. We're grown, we pay bills, and we listen to classic R&B on our office computers. Meanwhile the next generation grinds to Dru Hill or scores their slow jams using MP3. With many reputed delays, the reunion album tagged Guy III comes as a blatant capitalization on Gen X hunger for yesteryear, and this lackluster production doesn't offer anything substantial for the mature stomachs. The slow jams are there and Aaron Hall carries them all. Harmonies are barely audible. "Tell Me No," "Not A Day," and the somewhat mushy "Rescue Me" are likeable enough, but they don't hold much water amid overly produced uptempo cuts that contain a Left Eye soundalike. The disc also contains tracks about cyber sex ("Love On Line") and anywhere sex ("Do It"), both thinly veiled excuses to justify the production of kinky music videos. Riley produces a party pleaser in "Spend Time,Ó which uses the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long" hook, but to no avail. Guy's III indicates that some good groups are best left on classic R&B. Since Riley has Blackstreet and both Halls have solo careers, they should just accept change and move on.
All recordings courtesy of MCA Records. ÒWeÕre CominÕÓ written by T. Riley, W. Hogges, E. Williams, courtesy of Zomba Enterprises, Inc./Donril Music/Smokin' Sounds, Ltd./Do Key Wet Publishing (administered by Zomba Enterprises, Inc.)/WB Music Corp./Dowhatigotta Music (ASCAP). ÒLove OnlineÓ written by T. Riley, L. Sylvers III, L. Sylvers IV, R. Hopkins Jr., A. Williams, J. Williams, courtesy of Zomba Enterprises, Inc./Donril Music (administered by Zomba Enterprises, Inc.)/Notting Dale Songs, Inc./ Shuttletech Corporation (ASCAP). ÒWhy You Wanna Keep Me From My BabyÓ written by T. Riley, T. Rich, courtesy of Zomba Enterprises, Inc./Donril Music (administered by Zomba Enterprises, Inc.) (ASCAP)/Blue Butter Songs, Inc. (BMI).
