*1/2 Adam Sandler

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

(Warner Bros.)

It seems only a matter of time before Adam Sandler eschews comedy for a career as a second-rate musician. On this, his third CD, the alternately cute and vulgar but always immature former Saturday Night Live-er scraps the dopy little jingles that made him famous. Instead, he cheesily tackles everything from blues to '80s dance pop to country.

Sandler seems to have a special fondness for the power ballad. There's a full backing band, songs are slickly produced, and he's a competent imitator/singer. But that leaves little room for jokes. This more musical approach occasionally works -- on the clever "Listening to the Radio," a girlfriend-less Sandler pines for women from famous rock songs: "I want an Angie, a Mandy, a Candy-O, a Devil in a Dress of Blue/A Rosanna, Diana, a Sweet Caroline/I'd even take a Run-Around Sue." Overall, though, these songs aren't intentionally funny enough (and neither do they work as unintentional schlock) to warrant a second listen. Who'd ever think we'd be pining away for "Turkey Song?"

-- Mark Bazer