98° And Rising

98° And Rising

The soul-tinged harmonies 98 Degrees showcased in the top 10 hit "Because of You" are far more credible than those of other late-'90s teen-beat groups, but then there's plenty of star-making power behind the scenes: producers Trackmasters and Pras provide the funk on the '70s-esque "Heat It Up" and "Fly with Me," respectively; Stevie Wonder cameos on "True to Your Heart"; and the powerful ballad "I Do (Cherish You)" is a remake of Mark Wills's country hit. Their best weapon, though, is the soul in lead singers Jeff Timmons and Nick Lachey's vocal cords. Occasional 'N Sync-like pop ("The Hardest Thing," "To Me You're Everything") can be forgiven thanks to an impressive a cappella version of Michael Jackson's "She's Out of My Life" and the disco-happy "Do You Wanna Dance?" <I>--Rebecca Wallwork</I>