98 Degrees - The Collection (2002)

98 Degrees' smooth, sanitized soul and lush, precise harmonies are more akin to Boyz II Men than the Backstreet Boys. Which is not to say that they attract a different audience than their boy-band brethren; their simplistic but addictive songs of love and heartbreak seem torn from the pages of a Harlequin romance. The 13 songs on this best-of are culled from their 4 albums (including "This Gift" from their Christmas collection), and they rely heavily on lead vocalist Nick Lachey's breathy vocals, well-crafted melodies, and sparse production, but why tinker with a winning formula? These very songs have racked up nearly $10 million in sales for the band. What they lack in imagination, they make up for in guest appearances. Mariah Carey not only loaned them "Thank God I Found You," the song she penned with Terry Lewis, but her voice pushes the romantic ballad to stunning heights. The band also gets a boost when label mate Stevie Wonder takes a verse of "True to Your Heart." His seemingly effortless vocals and trademark harmonica transform the beat-heavy tune into an old-school classic. –Jaan Uhelszki

Tracklist

1. (00:04:42) 98 Degrees - Invisible Man
2. (00:04:56) 98 Degrees - Because Of You
3. (00:04:34) 98 Degrees - The Hardest Thing
4. (00:03:46) 98 Degrees - I Do (Cherish You)
5. (00:04:08) 98 Degrees - Why (Are We Still Friends)
6. (00:04:18) 98 Degrees - Thank God I Found You (Mariah Carey & Joe)
7. (00:03:25) 98 Degrees - Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)
8. (00:03:52) 98 Degrees - My Everything
9. (00:03:30) 98 Degrees - The Way You Want Me To
10. (00:04:07) 98 Degrees - This Gift
11. (00:05:12) 98 Degrees - Was It Something I Didn't Say
12. (00:04:44) 98 Degrees - Never Let Go
13. (00:04:15) 98 Degrees - True To Your Heart (Featuring Stevie Wonder)