Once again 112 return to bless us with another set of sounds for the '05. Everybody calls this album the redemption album but really its how it should have been even last time around. If they took there time the last time around they would have had an equally good album as the last. The intro is a song from thier first cd which lets you know that they went back to the begining(the roots) to get to the base of what made them and thier sound in the first place. Im glad to see they put the sweat and time into it this time around becasue the last cd could have really been better if they had more time put into it.
Now to the songs.....whats good here?:

*Intro
*Let this go
*What if
*U already know -- nice way to start things off
*My Mistakes
*If I hit
*The way
*Why cant we get along
*God knows


Overall I think 112 will satisfy lots of fans with this one. Not only did they return to their trade mark quilty sound but they also added in some new things like more of down south flavor from their home town. People like T.I., JD and three 6 mafia help to bring that around. They named the title appropriately "Pleasure and Pain" mostly for what they went through in the past and what they take you through on this cd. Fans and non fans need apply.

Get It!!

Having taken chances and experimented with changing their familiar sound, 112 has made another attempt to win over their fans with Pleasure and Pain. Although it is not quite a gem like the debut, it is much improvement from 2003's Hot and Wet. Introducing the CD with a sample of one of the best tracks from their first LP, 112 prepares us for a mixture of uptempo club songs and memorable ballads. "Last to Know" and "Why Can't We Get Along?" are reminders of why R&B lovers fell in love with this group in the beginning. Mike's solo on "What the Hell Do you Want?" is just as powerful and chilling as Part III's standout "Missing You". I could personally do without the club bangers like "If I Hit" and "Closing the Club" but so much is made up with songs like "What If" and the closer, "God Knows". I am proud of 112 for allowing me to find some appreciation in Contemporary R&B just when I had given up. If you didn't care for their last effort, don't worry- this is a worthy choice.

Where truly is P. Diddy when you need him the most?? The reasoning behind why 112 left Bad Boy in the first place is still a mystery to me that has yet to be solved. Normally, when an artist, or a group, leave one label to go to another, it's to better their career -- to make them hotter than they were, to change their image, improve the quality of their music, and sell more records. Def Jam/Def Soul has had two...count em...two shots in 2 years with this group and BOTH albums were complete duds -- bombshells that blew up in all of their fans' faces!!

Here they were, at the peak of their game...Part III was just released and every single they had sold them another million records. Who can forget about such classics as "It's Over Now" and "Peaches and Cream"?? Nobody!! Know why? Because they are CLASSICS! That's like saying that a person will forget about the first verse of "Cupid" when Slim gives off a light moan and the beat drops, and regardless of who you are or where you are, you find yourself singing right along with him and even moving from side to side to the music!! That's just how good and talented they were!! Even the songs that DIDN'T become singles were classics! "Your Letter", off of their debut CD, will ALWAYS be one of my favorites!! 112 is probably the ONLY male R&B group alive that could have interludes on their CD that were better than some of the songs!!! What happened?? What happened?? I'll tell you what happened.

112 thought that leaving Diddy would make them money, more independence, the "freedom that every artist deserves". Well...they are 2 STEPS away from expressing their freedom on a VH1 Behind the Music: Where Are They Now? Has-Been Special Edition!!

"Pleasure and Pain" is THE worst 112 album I have ever heard!! You thought that "Hot and Wet" was as bad as it gets?? I'm sorry...you were wrong. "Pleasure and Pain" was the tip of iceberg on so many levels that I can't even explain them all! But I'll try....

(1) INTRO -- what in the world?? Nothing but a few lines. No real harmonizing. Nothing catchy at all. Just reminding us of what the title of the CD is. Grade: F

(2) LET THIS GO - this song was leaked out underground months ago, which is one of the reasons why I bought the CD in the first place. It's nowhere near the standards reached by Part III, but it comes very close -- especially when compared to the other tracks on this CD. Grade: B

(3) WHAT IF - now we're getting somewhere...but we're still not there yet. Slim tries hard though, and it's a nice ballad, presenting his girl with hypothetical situations on "what if" he wouldn't screwed up what they had. Which brings up ANOTHER what if question from me to them....WHAT IF they would've never left Bad Boy?? There's one for you! Grade: C-

(4) U ALREADY KNOW - this song is tight!! And they knew it...which is why they threw it out as the first single, because they know that it's all they got. It picks up where Peaches and Cream left off. Great job, guys! Grade: A

(5) DAMN - oh my goodness!! As soon as your CD player shows "Track 5", press NEXT as fast as physically possible! This song is horrible!! It makes no sense! Slim's just whining over and over again....it's not even worth reviewing. Grade: F.

(6) NOWHERE - exactly where this CD is going....NOWHERE!! A big let down. They set you up at the beginning of the song...but a few seconds into it, you're forced to hit the SKIP button all over again. Grade: D-.

(7) LAST TO KNOW - I must've been the last to know this CD was going to stink so bad, because it was the last CD on the shelf when I went to pick it up on the day it came out! Come on, fellas! Call Diddy! ASAP! Save yourselves! Grade: D

(8) I'M SORRY (INTERLUDE) - the average listener that hasn't heard 112 before, and has not had the listening privilege of hearing 112, Room 112, or Part III would think that this is a good quality interlude -- which it is. But, being that I am...was...a big 112 fan, I compared this Interlude to all of the others from other CDs. Sorry, guys...close...but no way! However, I still listen to this track more than 75% of the rest of the CD. So, I have to give it -- > Grade: C

(9) MY MISTAKES: My biggest mistake in 2005 so far was buying this CD. I thought this song was going to be like a true story of them saying how their biggest mistake was dissing and dismissing Diddy. But it wasn't....and it was just another letdown with an okay beat. Wow... Grade: D.

(10)IF I HIT: This song was okay. I like it a lot! The beat is sick, and they ride it pretty nicely. Having T.I. on the track was definitely a boost for the quality of the sound. Even though 112 really hasn't focused on ballads about one night flings before, this song stands out amongst the other filth on this CD. Grade: B

(11) MY WAY: As in...looking for a Way Out. This is a track with the annoying JD's name all over it!! Therefore, making this track SO SO DEFinitely a piece of garbage! Grade: D

(12) WHY CAN'T WE GET ALONG: Maybe because you're not with Diddy anymore, and your music stinks. Overall, a nice flowing ballad -- but a definite letdown from 112. Grade: C

(13) THAT'S HOW CLOSE WE ARE: It's okay. Could be better, could be worst. Grade: C+

The other songs don't even matter!!

If you have Part III, take this CD out of your CD player as fast as possible, and play Part III quickly, so that you can remember and refresh your memory on what the REAL 112 sound like -- not the new 112 that felt they had to be like everybody else and have a dirty south rap group (Three 6 mafia) get highly explicit on their track ruining the essence and the art of making love that 112 once mastered and were experts at like Boyz II Men in their prime, and making it racy and degrading sex that robs the track of all of its romantic aura. Congratulations, 112! You have successfully blended in with the masses. If you ran from Diddy, because you were tired of being different, you accomplished your goal! Kudos! I'll be looking out for you on VH1, or E! True Hollywood Story! Better yet...I look forward to telling my kids 10 years from now that the group that they just made a TV movie about used to be one of the hottest male R&B groups in the world...and now...their just has-beens doing cameos on TV shows and Hollywood Squares. Sean "Puffy" Combs, they shoulda never left you, man!! Now...they're dealing with the consequences of their actions.

They left the Pleasure....to suffer through the Pain, taking all of their fans on that ride with them as well! Thanks a lot, guys!

I really love this album, it has some really catchy joint as well as smooth R&B. 112 still havent lost their touch even though they are now with def jam. If your a 112 fan and love R&B then you will be feelin this album.

My Ratings
Tracks
#1 Intro - Taking from their song 'Pleasure & Pain' on their first album. I like this 8/10

#2 Let This Go - One of my favourite tracks very Catchy upbeat R&B Love It 10/10

#3 What If - A nice sweet smooth R&B song 10/10

#4 U Already Know - Another Catchy R&B Song One of my favourites 10/10

#5 Damn - A good jam It has a upbeat vibe 10/10

#6 Nowhere - I simply adore this song it is so sweet with great lyrics LOVE IT 10/10

#7 Last To Know - Is a different style of beat for 112 however I'm feelin it 9/10

#8 I'm Sorry (Interlude) 7/10

#9 My Mistakes - Very Catchy Smooth I love this song has 9/10

#10 If I Hit feat T.I - This is jam to play in your car, excellent song 10/10

#11 The Way Feat JD - Another jam for the car v. upbeat R&B One of my favourites 9/10

#12 We Goin' Be Alright - A nice acapella with sweet lyrics 8/10

#13 Why Can't We Get Along - A sweet soulful song with great lyrics I LOVE THIS SONG! 10/10

#14 That's How Close We Are - This song is different to the rest of the album. It is almost 70's soul but I like it 8/10

#15 Closing The Club Feat Three 6 Mafia - V different to soulful 112. It has a great crunk 'n B Vibe LOVE IT 10/10

#16 What The Hell Do You Want - This song is smooth and slow a bit depressing after a while 7/10

#17 God Know - Soulful with great lyrics 8/10

No one can deny that groups like 112, Boyz II Men, Blackstreet, Destiny's Child, En Vogue, and etc. can sing. The members of 112 harmonize very well. The main problem is the tasteful nature of the recording. While supergroup Boyz II Men were an urban group, they were a tasteful urban group. They weren't too urban that they bored or lost fans. I personally think that urban music is wonderful and unique, but I also think you shouldn't spoil a recording with too much "urbaness". There has to be a tasteful degree.

Pleasure and Pain is an urban album. Overall, it is a very "pleasurable" listen, but at times it is just a little too urban. That seperates it from better R&B albums in general (aka Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Luther Vandross, & Usher). All of these artists have their urban quailities, but they don't over compensate trying to be urban.

As with most albums, the intro isn't necessary, but how can you fault an artist for 1:30 tops? No big deal. "Let This Go" is the perfect mid-tempo urban selection. But you can't help to compare 112 to Boyz II Men, who were truly the supergroup of the 1990s. "What If" is really urban, yet enjoyble and one of the better tracks.

"U Already Know" is surprisingly dirty. Upon my first listen of this CD, I didn't capture the sexual innuendos, but they are all over the place in this raw track. As raw as it is, it is another winner. "Damn" is a good track. Another raw venture is "If I Hit" feat. T.I. which I'm sure you can use your imagination a figure out whate they are insinuating.

While the album is good, some of the rest of the tracks venture too far urban to be hits, and it is as I stated earlier, quite raw, yet not as raw as say gangsta rap which doesn't leave anything to the mind. It is an enjoyable listen, nonetheless.