Pumping up the seventies loverman moves of Barry White and Teddy Pendergrass for an audience suckled on Dr. Dre, beefcake soul has been around since R. Kelly and Ginuwine donned suits without shirts. But when testosterone-heavy hotties Tank and Jaheim recently debuted in the Top Ten of Billboard's album chart the very same week, the genre proved itself more than muscle-bound eye candy for a nation that can't get enough of D'Angelo's abs.

At times Jaheim's husky croon comes so close to its model that Ghetto Love suggests a Pendergrass remix album. Overseen by Jaheim's mentor, Kaygee of Naughty by Nature, the hip-hop influence on the album goes beyond the lengthy between-song skits: Even its ballads rely more on buzzwords and slick samples than tunes: "Looking for Love" consists of two chords and dubious demonstrations of dedication ("Coulda bounced on you, girl/But your ass is too fine"). Only on the title track's singalong chorus does melody triumph over marketing.

A former Ginuwine background singer, Tank wouldn't seem to be a serious artist of anything beyond barbells at first glance. Yet Force of Nature comes packed with more unexpected hooks than a round with Mike Tyson. Tank's narrative flow rivals the sharpest MCs, and his rhythms suggest everything from salsa to Kraftwerk. Even when he lays on the jealous-paramour cliches of "Kill 4 You," Tank orchestrates a surprise ending that subverts not only his song but obsessive R&B in general. This brawn isn't without brains. (RS 868 -- May 10, 2001)

BARRY WALTERS

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(Posted: Apr 16, 2001)