Various artists
Randy Jackson's Music Club (Dream Merchant 21/Concord)
ESSENTIAL "Real Love"
Randy Jackson, the "American Idol" judge and music industry veteran, goes all Quincy Jones on his debut release for his new label imprint, bringing together an impressive array of talents from different genres for a pop throwdown. Guests include Mariah Carey, Richie Sambora, Travis Tritt, and Keb' Mo'. The breakout track is Paula Abdul's limp return into the spotlight, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow." It's a throwback, breathy dance-pop tune that evaporates upon listening. Better are some of the more contemporary R&B cuts, which eschew the slick, robotic production techniques hot right now and focus on the singers. Joss Stone covers "Walk on By" with a little hip-hop flavor, and Kelli Love's soaring "Who's Gonna Love You Now" is filled with both conviction and real soul. "Real Love" features "Idol" runners-up Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin, and the latter sounds as if he's going to turn out to be an intuitive and convincing R&B presence. The problem is that by blurring so many genres the disc lacks coherence. [Ken Capobianco]
