New Edition

Okay, first, New Edition rules. I know we're still hung over from a sugary sensory overload of pop puppets and hairless, corpulent Svengalis manipulating those tarted-up teenagers. However, early New Edition had more in common with the Jackson 5 than faceless Disney money-wranglers pumping out bubblegum tunes. Then the New Edition guys got older, grew apart, went solo, and had amazing careers. Now they're at square one. Last year they released a new album, One Love, losing their teen-pop personas in favor of the R&B crooner ethos. (One thing I never understood about slow jam R&B is it seems like a lot of work for some tail.) New Edition is currently on the road with Brian McKnight, who is promoting his new album, Gemini.