Anointed - Anointed (CD)

Self-titled, the fourth long-player by the Anointed has been referred to by those in the trio's camp as their "dream record," made silky-smooth by an all-star group of wish-list producers including Keith Crouch and Tony Rich. While hardly breaking new ground, and a little saccharine for some tastes, Anointed witnesses to the faithful in a slicked-up eclecticism that will appeal to the most secular R&B pop fans. "Something's Missing" is a sensual ballad firmly grounded by spiritual ideals. "Ooh Baby" is a dance-inflected harmony anthem underscored with a fat bass-delay beat. "Take It Easy," a funked-up, whirling R&B number, features the skitter-scat showboating of Steve Crawford on lead vocals. Most insightfully infectious, however, are the opening and closing numbers-the unadulterated disco-gospel joy of the album version of "Revive Us" (there are two alternate cuts not featured here) and the soulful optimism of the eminently singable "Anything Is Possible."