Late Night Special (by Pretty Ricky, R&B)

On their second album, LATE NIGHT SPECIAL, the four pretty boys in Pretty Ricky keep both their party and certain parts of the anatomy growing with terrific harmonies, inventive vocal and instrumental arrangements, and a single-minded obsession with sex. There's no innuendo or subtlety involved. You'll have to go far to find more graphic descriptions of the various permutations of getting it on, but you'll also have to go far to find better performances. For example, the gorgeous love song on the last track, "Make It Like It Was," is a clean and lovely ballad about remembering the beginning of a love affair.

Most parents will not be able to get past lyrics like "He can't stroke it like this / he can't stroke it like that / soon as you walk through the door / I'll put her panties to the floor…poppin' that nookie / I'll be your groupie…just take them clothes off, girl I'm bound to break you off…I never go soft / never go raw." Yet, with a perfect ear for vocal harmony and classic sense of soul arrangements, the group manages to offer some inventive touches that redefine R&B while also paying loving tribute to the genre.

Released on: January 23, 2007
Label: Atlantic
Genre: R&B
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes