Return of Dragon [Vinyl]

Credit Sisqó for avoiding the sophomore slump and sidestepping formula on his rugged and soulful latest. Blessed with a powerful, dare one say overwrought voice, Sisqó has the power to make the phone book (or ditties about undergarments) sound intense. But with the help of Teddy Riley, among others, on Return of Dragon he's working with more interesting material. The single "Can I Live" vibrates with a fierce wiggle, while the heartfelt ballad "Close Your Eyes" is pure hankie material. Of course, this being a Sisqó CD, you have to endure tracks (the first two) in which Sisqó essentially pays homage to his own genitalia. Program the CD player. --Amy Linden