Record Rack

** 1/2 Savage Garden, “Affirmation,” Columbia. Thanks to such hits as 1997’s “I Want You,” this Australian-bred duo found a niche among the positive-minded dance-pop set. But unlike all those bopping, grinning, Stepford-wife acts topping the charts these days, Savage Garden has an actual soul. It may not run too deep on the group’s second album (due Tuesday), but it’s there.

Singer Darren Hayes writes the lyrics, and musician Daniel Jones crafts the music, giving the songs actual personal meaning. Even the sound, which eschews new-jack flava in favor of a towering ‘80s synth-disco feel with a few techno touches, departs from the usual R&B-pop; formula. Unfortunately, the super-slick production creates a robotic sheen, which is OK for such throw-up-your-hands-and-dance numbers as the house-flavored “The Best Thing,” but over-amplifies the melodrama in such slight balladry as “The Lover After Me.”

Hayes’ abundant vocal gifts and undeniable sincerity somewhat offset his lack of original thought, lending a fetching innocence and a real sense of fun to such tracks as the sparkling “Hold Me.” Even the dewy-eyed ballad “I Knew I Loved You” may tug at a closet romantic’s heart. But the duo plunges into Serious Territory about halfway through, offering sober, if facile, tunes about spousal abuse, death and moving on that turn the whole affair into a major drag.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.