AMG Review of 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bell Biv DeVoe

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

New Edition spin-off group Bell Biv DeVoe is a good candidate for the kind of limited compilation that the discount-priced 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection series provides. The trio broke four hits off their multi-platinum debut album, Poison (1990), one off their remix album, WBBD -- Bootcity! (1991), a couple off their second album, Hootie Mack (1993), and a couple released independently. They're all here in chronological order, with a couple of album tracks and a remix of the hit "Do Me" making up the 12 tracks. (Nothing from the 2001 reunion album BBD is included.) The recordings reveal the singers to be horny and self-referential as they make their way through the involved beats that dominate the musical tracks, a successful musical formula for early-'90s R&B. Their moment may have passed, but Bell Biv DeVoe's best is easily encapsulated here.