Greatest Hits (CD - 2006)

Ginuwine was one of the best R&B singers of the late 1990s and early 2000s, combining an ear for sharp, futuristic productions (his earliest tracks were produced by the mighty Timbaland) with a silky, seductive appeal that classified him as a classic loverman. GREATEST HITS lives up to its title by including all of Ginuwine's singles, and drawing equally from his five releases (ranging from his 1996 debut to 2005's BACK II BASICS). Whether with sly, forward-thinking club jams ("Pony") or smooth balladry ("So Anxious"), GREATEST HITS provides plenty of justification for the platinum status of Ginuwine's studio releases.

The only blunder made with the selections on Ginuwine's Greatest Hits is that it doesn't contain "Love You More," a sweet ballad that received a fair amount of play on U.S. radio stations and scaled up to the Top 30 of the R&B chart. Apart from that, there are no gripes to be had with Greatest Hits. It otherwise remains true to its title. The spread from Ginuwine's first five albums, released from 1996 through 2005, is fairly balanced. While another three or four songs could've been added to the program, it'll satisfy anyone with a moderate interest in one of the more successful male R&B vocalists of the late '90s and early 2000s -- one who handled the club tracks ("Pony," "Hell Yeah"), ballads ("So Anxious," "Differences," "Stingy"), and mid-tempo material ("What's So Different") equally well. ~ Andy Kellman minimize