In Brief

* * * U.N.V., “Universal Nubian Voices,” Maverick/Warner Bros. A welcome entry into the crowded R&B; guy-group field. Boyz II Men’s harmonies are stronger but U.N.V. balances its repertoire much better. The mushy sweetness of “So in Love With You” is offset by the hard-core, urban swing of “Bring Your Body to Me” and “Bone.” Note to the Boyz: Nobody can accuse these guys of blandness.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).