Review Summary: Those were the days…
I have always looked back at my childhood during the late 90s and early 00s with a certain degree of fondness. Not only do I miss the straightforward trouble-free nature of those days, but I also have a small amount of nostalgia for the music that dominated the charts during this period, mainly due to the brilliance of three producers: Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (collectively known as The Neptunes), and Timothy Mosley (better known by his stage name Timbaland). Indeed, such was the extent of their dominance during the late 90s and early 00s, it’s hard to imagine what ‘pop’ music would sound like today if they hadn’t ventured into music production. Earning his first full production credit on Ginuwine’s 1996 debut album
Ginuwine… the Bachelor,
100% Ginuwine sees Timbaland reunite with the R&B singer to deliver an album bursting with seductive grooves and thumping rhythms.
Perhaps it’s wise to begin by saying that those listeners searching for another ‘Pony’ may be disappointed; nothing here is as immediate as Ginuwine’s stomping hit-single from his debut album. Instead
100% Ginuwine is filled with intricate melodies and hypnotic grooves that aurally seduce the listener into submission. Take ‘Wait A Minute’ for instance, with its delicate guitar notes and steady drum hits, or the seductive ‘So Anxious’, with its scrumptious guitar slide and slow, bottomless bass, they’re wonderfully constructed tracks that slowly work their way underneath your skin. Ginuwine is in fine form too, with his soulful voice elegantly sweeping over these slow burning songs. Elsewhere, ‘What’s So Different?’ is a monster of a track that showcases Timbaland’s inventive production style with its jittery bassline, punchy drums and unusual instruments and sounds (including a roaring Godzilla).
Yet for all my praise of Timbaland’s work, Ginuwine remains the star of the show. While lyrically the album centres around the subject of relationships (sex, trust, cheating, devotion, and so on), it’s the singer’s versatility, as well as Timbaland’s production, that keeps
100% Ginuwine sounding fresh and enjoyable. Whether he’s irked by intrusive girl friends (‘None of Ur Friends Business’), dismissive of rumours concerning his lover’s past (‘Two Sides To A Story’), or simply trying to convince us that he’s totally genuine (‘Same Ol’ G’), Ginuwine succeeds in being utterly convincing, utilising his rich, inviting voice to great effect. ‘All Nite All Day’, one of the album’s more conventional R&B tracks, is a wonderful ode to physical love that is reminiscent of mid-90s R. Kelly. Elsewhere, ‘Final Warning’ sees Ginuwine joined by Aaliyah (the album’s only featured guest) for one of
100% Ginuwine’s standout tracks. Built around a dazzling beat that includes melodic guitar, tightly wound electronic percussion, and a ringing telephone, the song sees Aaliyah assume the role of Ginuwine’s suspicious lover, demanding to know who keeps calling her man. It’s an infectious track that once again highlights Timbaland’s inventiveness as a producer, as well as Ginuwine’s ability to command a track – irrespective of whether it’s a seductive ballad or an ingratiating dancefloor number.
Unfortunately however,
100% Ginuwine is not without its flaws. The first of which being that the second half of the album isn't as memorable as the first. Even though there are still some great songs to be had, such as the aforementioned ‘Final Warning’ and ‘All Nite All Day’, the second half of the album feels like the duo ran out of steam a little. This feeling is compounded by the inclusion of She’s Out Of My Life’ (a Michael Jackson cover) as the album’s closer. While by no means a bad track - Ginuwine delivers a great vocal performance here, it’s painfully at odds with the album’s preceding songs, ending
100% Ginuwine on an anti-climax. Another issue is the presence of vocal skits, or ‘interludes’ as they’re referred to here, which become irritating on repeated listens.
Yet despite these shortcomings, Ginuwine’s second album still remains an enjoyable listen. What’s remarkable is that even sixteen years after its release the album still sounds as fresh as ever, emphasising just how far ahead of the game Timbaland was. A lot more musically diverse than its predecessor, part of
100% Ginuwine's charm lies in the fact that the album sounds like two guys just having fun in the studio. Some of the beats that Timbaland crafts here are fantastic, and Ginuwine is in fine voice too. In many ways we can excuse the aforementioned missteps because for the most part,
100% Ginuwine delivers.
Recommended Tracks
‘Final Warning’
‘Wait A Minute’
‘So Anxious’
‘What’s So Different?’
