GIST
Objectionable material "Busted," "Showdown Vol. 1," the title cut (suggestive deletions and/or casual cursing), "I Like" (euphemistic raunch). Worldview When Ronald Isley gets that feeling, he wants sexual healing. Overall quality The heavy-breathing sexuality aside, an intermittently persuasive case for letting R. Kelly act the Svengali to aging soul stars.

GIST
Worldview Sunsets, cloudy days, lone stars, swirling skies-just the sort of soft-focus sentimentality one expects from a single, romantically inclined young chanteuse. Overall quality High; unlike her father, Ravi Shankar, Miss Jones operates strictly within the Western pop-musical tradition, inspiring hopes that her eventual follow-ups will receive an equally warm reception.

GIST
Worldview "[I]t was you, it was me, it was every man / we've all got blood on our hands / we only receive what we demand / and if we want hell then hell's what we'll have" ("Cookie Jar," a "Who Killed Davey Moore?" for the Columbine generation). Overall quality Somnolent sensitivity.

GIST
Objectionable material The booklet photo of Cher modeling tinsel. Worldview With the right combination of confidence and connections, even this deep-voiced comedienne can accumulate enough hits over a 38-year period to fill a 75-minute CD. Overall quality One guilty pleasure after another.

GIST
Worldview "The Lord's blessings leave me lyrically inclined / [expletive deleted], I ain't even gotta try to shine /... I got Scriptures in my brain I could spit at your dame / straight out the Good Book, look, [plural racial slur] iz shook" ("Patiently Waiting"). Overall quality None. Maybe when he starts "spitting" Scripture?

CAUTION
Some profanity.