Shanice's latest Motown release features the talented young vocalist moving comfortably from ballads to hip hop and funky up-tempo R&B. Shanice is definitely reaching out to pop and R&B listeners and 21 WAYS TO GROW is successful in delivering both genre. Shanice's five-octave range is well suited to deliver smooth pop love songs like the opening track ""Don't Break My Heart."" While a song like this may be a little too glossy and sentimental for my own tastes, the material is well produced and sounds like what it is: well, mushy. On tracks like ""Somewhere,"" ""Give Me the Love I Need,"" and especially ""I Like,"" Shanice is featured in a more traditional R&B context and really shines. On these tracks, great writing and super-grooves make Shanice sound like a true diva. 21 WAYS features a feast of smooth harmonies over smooth and funky grooves and thematically, the album doesn't stray too far from the smooth and romantic with titles like ""I'll Be There"" and ""Never Changing Love."" ""I Wanna Give It To You"" has become a bona fide hit, which is not surprising, since its a happening, ready-to-crossover kinda R&B thang. The final cut, ""Never Changing Love"" gives Shanice a chance to display her much-touted range, which she does, and dogs will be freaking out all over the neighborhood if you put this track on loud enough.

This is good solid R&B which should have no problem finding its way over to the pop chart. Shanice has done all right for herself, considering she's 21 and just put together a well executed sophomore effort. Shanice is not Chaka Kahn, but none of this stuff ever comes close to the much missed funky goddess anyway.

Be forewarned, there's nothing here that you can listen to if you're mad at your parents or anything, got it! This stuff is angst-free! However, she does look pretty good and sings about 'losing it,' (wink, wink) so maybe there are some possibilities here. Let your imagination wander. Also consider there is a hidden track on this disc, yes, ""Jesus Loves Me"" courtesy of a younger, chaste-er Shanice.