City Slang: Human Nature brings Motown down under

Human Nature, the Australian male singing group who cover Motown songs and have topped the charts in their native land, are kicking off their U.S. tour in the home of their favorite music at the Fisher Theatre on March 24.

The band has a new album out called The Motown Record, which follows the PBS television special Human Nature Sings Motown with Special Guest Smokey Robinson. Human Nature will tour the States through the spring with it’s band the Funk Foundation in tow (very authentic sounding).

Now, the jury’s out for us. We have only heard a few clips online, and we’re not quite sure what to make of it all. Usually though, four or five white kids singing Motown ends up sounding a bit too much like Boys 2 Men, Color Me Bad, or even N*Sync.

Here’s what the press release says: “The new Human Nature album, The Motown Record, (release date March 6, Universal Music Enterprises) is a classic yet modern take on the Motown hits that influenced generations, featuring songs originally made famous by artists like the Four Tops, the Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder. Human Nature brings their fresh soulful vocal style to classics like  “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “My Girl,” “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” and “Stop! In The Name Of Love.” Paying tribute to the Motown sound, Human Nature’s distinctive and authentic performances of these ever-popular favorites represent everything audiences love about the songs, deliveredby four supremely talented young men who sing and dance their way through the Motown hit list.”

”Hailing from Sydney, Human Nature features brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney and fellow high-school classmates Phil Burton and Toby Allen. While still in school, they were captivated by the harmonies of soul, gospel and R&B.  Since forming Human Nature, these four friends have forged one of the most successful careers in Australian music history, releasing nine albums, five of which went to No. 1. They have toured internationally, and opened for Celine Dion and Michael Jackson in Europe and Australia.”

Make your own mind up.