Musiq: Soulstar

By REBECCA BARRY

(Herald rating: * * )

On his third album, Talib Johnson, the Philadelphian behind Musiq Soulchild, is still busy mopping up the leftovers his 70s soul music idols left behind. If it wasn't for the super slick production, you'd think he was born in another era. But where his contemporaries D'Angelo and Erykah Badu update the genre with inventive melodies, risky rhythms and varied instrumentation, Musiq sticks to an insipid urban formula. You Love Me and Womanopoly are initially appealing — deep, sexy vocals over big funk bass lines, warm synth chords and occasional toots from the brass section. But after 70 minutes of this and his endless Stevie Wonder trilling, boredom inevitably sets in.

Thankfully it is saved momentarily by an out-of-the-blue and cool cover of the Rolling Stones' Miss You, the truly soulful Moment in Life with Kindred, the Family Cee-Lo and the ultra funky Don't Stop with Bilal. There are moments of bliss but put together it's a so-so affair.

Label: Def Soul