98 Degrees, “Full Circle.”

Full Circle is a fairly fitting description for 98 Degrees‘ surprise seventh album, its first non-holiday offering since 2013. There’s a twist: Half the material is new, while the other half consists of re-recorded versions of the quartet’s biggest hits. The boy (man) band is the latest act to take creative ownership of its material in the spirit of Taylor Swift’s “Taylor’s Version” remakes. The new versions will allow 98 Degrees to own its songs, which can has an impacts things like streaming revenue.

In the ecosystem of ‘90s boy bands, 98 Degrees leaned toward the style of a classic vocal group rather than a flashy choreographed production. Think more Boyz II Men than Backstreet Boys. The new material on Full Circle is a mostly nod to that nostalgic sound. The outlier is opener “Stranger Things (Have Happened),” which lifts the hit Netflix show’s synth intro and twists it into an anthemic pop track. It’s a fun track that doesn’t take itself seriously and delivers a sneaky good hook.

R&B ballad “Got U” is ‘90s pop injected directly into a vein. Vocally, the group’s sound is really unblemished with time. Vocalists Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons take the lion’s share of the leads with Drew Lachey and Justin Jeffre fleshing out the harmonies.

“Same Mistake” keeps things simple, with a backbeat, light synths and guitar driving the track. The Lachey brothers trade verses here on the somber and reflective love song. The acoustic “Tremble” really showcases the group’s ability to harmonize, especially in the chorus with the song’s title becoming a sort of call-and-response to the lead vocal. Filipino vocalist Janine Teñoso appears on “Mona Lisa,” which is quite literally an ode to the mystery of the timeless painting.

The re-releases mostly preserve the character of the originals. The production of the new rendition of “Invisible Man” actually dials down the arrangement, putting more emphasis on the harmonies. Beyond vocal maturity, the tone is not drastically different from those recorded nearly three decades earlier. The anthemic “Because of You” mirrors much of the character of the original with the slightest pop gloss buffed out. Album 98 Degrees and Rising gets a trio of updated tracks, including “The Hardest Thing.”

The group’s biggest hit, ballad “I Do (Cherish You),” not only gets a fresh coat of paint, but a second ‘Taglish” version includes Filipina vocalist Katrina Velarde taking on a verse. Taglish is combination of Tagalog, the official language of the Philippines, and English. The emphasis on the Southeast Asian country isn’t by accident, but rather a nod to one of the places where 98 Degrees broke out before getting hits in the United States. The group still maintains a large fan base in the country. The set is rounded out by upbeat tune “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche).”

Follow writer Mike DeWald at mikedewald.bsky.social.