BEST OF/20TH CENTURY

Nelson: Gunnar Nelson, Matthew Nelson. Liner Note Author: Scott Schinder. Photographers: Dennis Keeley; Gene Kirkland; Robert John. Nelson sold millions at the height of pop-metal's reign, then disappeared for five years before returning in 1995 with Because They Can. As those were Matthew and Gunnar Nelson's only albums for Geffen, they're the only things featured on this, Nelson's installment in the long-running 20th Century Masters retrospective series. The hit singles "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" and "After the Rain" have held up well, and "Only Time Will Tell" is a nice slice of synthesizer and guitar-driven, Bryan Adams-style power balladry. (Though billed as "Tracy's Song/Only Time Will Tell" on the original After the Rain LP, this is the same version.) After the spangles and harmonized guitar solos of stuff like "Fill You Up," the light and poppy "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" is quite a departure. The Rembrandts-ish track begins the second, Because They Can half of 20th Century Masters, which includes five cuts from the album. "Cross My Broken Heart" is equally gentle soft rock, but "Won't Walk Away" does try to recapture the rousing exuberance of Nelson's first album. This isn't a proper Nelson greatest-hits collection, as it only summarizes their first two albums. But fans or nostalgia enthusiasts might get a kick out of it. ~ Johnny Loftus