Back at One (Motown)

As a crooner who writes, performs, and produces his own material, McKnight has an edge over his multiplatinum R&B peers. But because he primarily mimics other hit-makers, that distinction is negligible: The tracks without Missy Elliott-esque beats or Cher-styled vocal tweaks sound like Babyface. As the title track love list inadvertently suggests, this is soul by numbers. C+