** POISON “Flesh & Blood” <i> Enigma/Capitol</i> :<i> Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic). : </i>

Sexism, lack of sophistication, childish lyrics, sheer goofiness. All the qualities that helped turn off critics, who’ve pushed Poison to the bottom of the heavy-metal barrel, are here on the L.A. group’s third album. But there are some positives to the glam-rockers’ “Flesh & Blood.”

While it may be hard for some to believe, Poison actually shows flashes of talent this time. Though lyrically the band is at its usual low level, the material is more sophisticated musically. The musicianship is up a notch too. Lead singer Bret Michaels occasionally shows that he’s more than a Steven Tyler wannabe, and at times guitarist C.C. DeVille indicates he’s blossomed into a fairly skilled player.

With its garage-band crudeness, the first Poison album, “Look What the Cat Dragged In,” scored points for sheer exuberance--even while sporting licks lifted from the usual sources. But the slick, crassly commercial follow-up, “Open Up and Say . . . Ahhh!,” which sold over five million, was a giant musical step backward.

“Flesh & Blood” is far from a great album, but, musically at least, it points Poison back in a positive direction.