**SHEENA EASTON : “What Comes Naturally” : <i> MCA</i>

As a soul singer, Sheena Easton generally comes across as a modestly talented wanna-be. Her voice simply isn’t gutsy enough to make most R&B;/hip-hop songs work. Invariably the rhythms are funkier than her vocals.

And sure enough, many of the songs on this album have potent musical introductions. But the material fades when Easton starts singing. “Time Bomb,” for instance, chugs along with its bass-heavy instrumental tracks, but is ultimately a dud because Easton’s thin, squeaky vocals can’t match the vigor of the music.

Because her voice does have a soulful quality, Easton has always excelled as a straight pop singer. On this album, there’s a lone gem--the pop ballad “To Anyone,” a tear-jerker about mourning a broken romance. But this song is soulful pop, not R&B;/hip-hop. It’s an example of what Easton can do in the pop genre--when she’s within her range, with the right song and the right production.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic).