**** Tony Toni Toné

HOUSE OF MUSIC

Combining a deep knowledge of past R&B styles with enough contemporary touches to hook a burgeoning new generation of urban radio listeners, this veteran trio are set to blow up without going pop, as De La Soul once put it. Although they make no overt concessions to crossover, their late-1996 release is the most accomplished example of pure songcraft I've heard in the past year. There are just enough dance tracks to keep the groove lively and varied, the ballads put melody before melisma, and the standard-issue lyrics are invigorated by unexpected little twists (like the lonely soul who searches for his lost love by calling up "America's Most Wanted").

But it's the power of history that gives this quiet storm its tremendous sweep. Switching between the expressive tenor of number-one songwriter Raphael Saadiq and the warm baritone of number-two songwriter D' Wayne Wiggins, the album pours out more than an hour of sly musical steals, passing lyrical references, and full-blown homages. My girl and I picked out bows to Al Green, Earth Wind & Fire, George Clinton, the O'Jays, Sly Stone, Kurtis Blow, Curtis Mayfield, even the Temptations. Maybe you and your sweetie could come up with a few more as you recline together after getting down to business.

-- Franklin Soults