98 Degrees turns up the heat

They're four guys from Ohio. But then, the Beatles were just four guys from Liverpool.

Of course, many pop-music afficionados would be aghast at any comparison between 98 Degrees and the Fab Four. But like the feverish hysterics that swept North America 35 years ago during the "British invasion," today's harmony-spouting hunk hits are heating up hordes of young females all over the continent.

And local fans get a chance to see -- with all that screaming, it may be hard to hear -- the objects of their desire tomorrow night when 98 Degrees hits London for a sold-out show at Centennial Hall.

Since the release of its self-titled debut album in July 1997, 98 Degrees has been featured on CNN/Showbiz Today, Soul Train, The Tonight Show and game five of last season's Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz NBA final.

In Canada, its first album went gold (selling more than 50,000 copies), while the single Invisible Man reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart.

That success has paved the way for the foursome's sophomore album, 98 Degrees and Rising, which has gone gold in Canada after only 16 weeks on the charts. And its latest single, Because of You, has cracked the top 50 on the "pop adult radio" listings.

With the knob-twirling help of some heavyweight producers -- including the Trackmasters (Mariah Carey, Will Smith and LL Cool J) -- and an upbeat duet with Stevie Wonder, the new album is dominating the pre-teen musical scene with its slick mix of hip-hop, R&B, pop and dance. The album also features an a cappella rendition of Michael Jackson's classic She's Out of My Life and, in the song Do You Wanna Dance, a sample from Kool & the Gang's Get Down On It.

But clearly, the music isn't everything here. A quick surf through some of the Internet sites devoted to 98 Degrees reveals a lot of breathless commentary similar to the following (found at www.angelfire.com/in/thehouse4/): "Here on our site, we breath, live, and die for 98 Degrees. . . . Well, we love all the 98 Degree men, but here at 98 Degrees 4 eva (sic), our favourite is Justin. He is the most loyal, honest and sensitive guy in the band. His smile also melts our heart. Of course we also love Jeff and Drew for obvious reasons. Well enough talking!!!!! Lets get HOT cause its 98 Degrees in here."

Or this (from the site www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Disco/6735):

"Less than a month from now, I will be close enough to the stage that I hope one of the guys sweats on me! The (show) in Berkeley, Calif., I got some pretty sucky seats (last row on the bottom floor), but that's ok coz (sic) in Sacramento, Calif. I got front row seats!!! I've never been front row, what do I do up there? Should I give the guys something? What?"

Enough said.