Revelation

Rather than rushing back into the studio to keep the momentum of their sophomore smash 98 Degrees and Rising going, the four hunks of 98 Degrees decided to act more like real musicians and cowrite and produce their third album. And though there is no shortage of balladry on Revelation, the Ohio-bred act has sprinkled some tasty, uptempo flavors into the sugary, lovelorn mix. The opening track, "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)"--not to be confused with Jennifer Lopez's "Una Noche Mas"--sets the tone with an energetic beat and Spanish guitar. From there, it's back and forth between the harmonized ballads that made 98 Degrees the third most beloved group among the teenage-girl set, and some more daring dance tracks (on "Dizzy," lead crooner Nick Lachey even tries his hand at some dope raps). Thankfully, they've ventured out of the heartsick town where 98 Degrees has always resided, but they've taken a few souvenirs to their new destination: mathematic harmonies, symphonic strings, R&B-tinged pop tunes, and even Richard Marx are along for the ride. Still, they prove that they're not just cogs in some boy-band machine and that they have enough versatility to update their sound every now and again. But don't worry--for those of you who fear there may not be a love song as lovely as "The Hardest Thing" here, Nick, Drew, Jeff, and Justin offer you two new tunes: "My Everything" and "The Way You Are." --Heidi Sherman