In Brief: : ** 1/2 MICHAEL McDONALD, “Take It to Heart,” Reprise.:<i> Albums are rated from five stars (a classic) to one star (poor). </i>

Armed with one of the warmest and most distinctive voices in pop music, McDonald has what it takes to make slight material seem weightier than it is--most of the time. Except for “Searchin’ For Understanding,” the most forceful example of jazz-injected funk here, these songs have potential but don’t quite go the distance. The album is a fairly low-key effort, as typified by “You Show Me,” a soft-edged and quietly affecting bit of jazz/pop. McDonald hardly embarrassed himself; he just sounds stalled at the starting gate.