E-Life (CD - 2008)

Like Raphael Saadiq of Tony! Toni! Tone!, Mint Condition found a way to evolve with R&B. On 2008's E-LIFE, released 16 years after the harmony group's Top 10 moment, "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)," the five men from the Twin Cities incorporate elements of nu soul while retaining an impassioned `80s smooth pop center. The balance is neatly displayed on the two standout tracks as the always welcome Anthony Hamilton drops by on the funky "Baby Boy Baby Girl" and they channel the Deele on the mesmerizing ballad "Right Here."

It's more than a little ironic how, back in 1991, Mint Condition were considered something of a novelty -- being an R&B band in the truest sense -- when they've now outlasted just about every group, producer-driven or not, regardless of style, that formed around the same time. Nearly 20 years in the business, Mint Condition are on just their sixth studio album, but identifying a truly weak link in their discography is impossible. The consistency continues on E-Life, a Mint Condition release as durable as any other. Opening track "Baby Boy Baby Girl," featuring Anthony Hamilton, was a bold choice for a first single, as it's a spirited, touching tribute to kids' unconditional love for their dads. Though there are other songs with similarly uncommon forms of inspiration, much of the album deals in universal romantic matters that just about any listener can find relatable: being suspicious of cheating on "Somethin'," enduring relationships on "Just Can't Believe," communication issues on "Nothing Left to Say," and dead ends on "Back and Forth," a driving jam that deserves heavy rotation on every adult R&B station. And, of course, there are a couple romantic ballads, like "Queen of Come Here Go Away," which recalls the Isley Brothers' spaced-out, sparsely arranged quiet storms. Again, the band holds back on the natural impulse to show off, never failing to serve the song first. ~ Andy Kellman minimize