By the time
Ginuwine...The Bachelor was released,
Ginuwine was already well on his way to becoming R&B's next big thing -- thanks mainly to the ferocious word of mouth his lead single, a cover of
Prince's "When Doves Cry," perpetuated. Make no mistake, this was the album that indeed started it all for the young R&B sensation, catapulting him from relative obscurity to the limelight in less time than most of his contemporaries. Led by the ferocious chart-topping opener "Pony,"
Ginuwine not only became a staple for commercial R&B radio, but he upped the sexual reference ante for many up-and-coming male singers such as
Dru Hill,
Blackstreet, and such established producers as
R. Kelly. Combining the influences of funk, quiet storm, soul, and even a tad bit of electro,
Ginuwine effortlessly displays not only a powerful voice, but sharp songwriting and production skills.
Ginuwine...The Bachelor was a promising debut and only a slight notion of great things to come. [550 Music/Epic's 1996 reissue included five bonus tracks.] ~ Rob Theakston