When En Vogue broke onto the scene (initially with "Hold on", in 1990, then with 1992's Funky Divas), they did it with a democratic blend of future-looking r&b: four powerful voices and a spare-no-expense production budget that updated classic r&b with its blend of sounds and styles. On their fourth album, the group--reduced to a vocal trio after their second album; former EV-member Dawn Robinson unveiled her Lucy Pearl project about the same time as this album was released--switches direction. In a post-Lauryn-Hill world, En Vogue's classic sound no longer sounds so innovative, so on Masterpiece Theater they go classic. The production is still interesting, and even without Robinson, the remaining vocalists (Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones) pack a sultry punch. The Middle Eastern feel of "Beat of Love" makes it the perfect cabaret piece for a Casablanca update; "Those Dogs" blends rap into a doo-wop epic; "No No No (Can't Come Back)" is as classy as it is retro; and "Love You Crazy" is built around The Nutcracker Suite's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Faries". Only opener "Riddle" sounds quite like past EV albums, incorporating the burst-sound from "My Lovin'". Despite the title, En Vogue have already made their masterpiece with Funky Divas; this album shows that, despite that, there's still fuel left in the engine. --Randy Silver