Reviewed on this page:
The Bachelor - 100% Ginuwine - The Life
Like the other artists in his circle, he's made a bunch of guest appearances on records by Timbaland and Missy Elliott (I don't think he ever guested for Aaliyah) and has done some soundtrack work. I haven't found a fan site; stay tuned. (DBW)
100% Ginuwine (1999)
Ginuwine's versatility serves him well this time out: he sounds exactly like Michael Jackson one
minute (a cover of "She's Out Of My Life") and like a cocky streetwise kid on the next ("So Anxious"). He's also a fine lyricist - though
the focus is romance throughout, the songs are unclichéd, plain spoken and often touching ("Same Ol' G"), though sometimes he's a
bit full of himself, and can spoil everything with misplaced vulgarity ("None Of Ur Friends Business"). Most of the music is
by Timbaland, who also produced nearly all the tracks, and he uses a broader palette here than on his solo or Missy
work: there's a lot of melodic guitar ("Final Warning," a duet with Aaliyah) and some curious samples (Godzilla's roar closes
out "What's So Different") in addition to the usual eerie strings, gut-pounding keyboard bass and tightly wound electronic
percussion. It ends up being the least artificial blend of R&B and hip hop this side of Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony. With a bit more variation from track to track, this could have been one of the best albums of the
year. (DBW)
In 2000 Ginuwine contributed "Simply Irresistable" to the Romeo Must Die Soundtrack . (DBW)
The Life (2001)
Every so often, a singer falls in love with his own voice, and figures the melodies don't matter much as long as he gets to vocalize
like crazy. Usually his producer talks him out of it, but not this time: Ginuwine goes totally overboard with overlong would-be
seductive ballads lacking any real melody ("Just Because," "Differences"). He does a good job with the lyrics, though, making good use of
detail, and using contemporary references that never seem forced ("2 Way," about a man, a woman and their pagers).
Timbaland only produced one track, "That's How I Get Down" featuring Ludacris, and Raphael Saadiq co-wrote and co-produced "2 Way" with Ginuwine.
Most of the production is from Troy Oliver or Big Dog Productions, and they stick close to contemporary formulas: drum loops, heavy bottom,
familiar keyboard licks.
Unlike his first two discs, there's no high-profile cover, but two songs borrow titles from crappy 70s ballads ("Open Arms," produced by
the dreadful Cory Rooney;
"How Deep Is Your Love"), and he does interpret a treacly Diane Warren tune ("Superhuman").
(DBW)
Back II Da Basics (2005)
No production from Timbaland this time - Oliver, Trackmasters and the Underdogs shoulder the burden -
and I won't be rushing to write a review.
(DBW)
A Man's Thoughts (2009)
Production comes from all over including Bryan-Michael Cox ("Last Chance"); Timbaland and Missy appear on "Get Involved."
(DBW)
Elgin (2011)
A Ginuwine Christmas (2011)