Sophisticated soul man Brian McKnight plays up his romantic strengths on this double CD featuring one disc of nine new tracks and one cover, and one disc showcasing a live solo performance recorded in Los Angeles. The underrated multi-instrumentalist-and-vocalist’s new songs hardly veer from the sexy, sultry feel of his past work, which has garnered him 16 Grammy nominations over nearly two decades. The best tracks avoid the oh-so-tasteful vibe that has marred some of his studio work. “Temptation’’ evokes Marvin Gaye in both style and content, and it’s McKnight’s best vocal as he recounts the allure of an undeniable woman. “One Mo Time’’ is a blues-inflected cut about a breakup on which McKnight’s supple singing makes the regret and yearning palpable. He flashes his formidable guitar skills on “Husband 2.1’’ - the disc could use more of this musical muscle. All the tunes are artfully arranged and lean; only one exceeds four minutes. This works to his advantage, especially on “Just Me,’’ a lovely ballad, and on the upbeat “Gimme Yo Love.’’ The live disc is an engaging tour through his catalog and choice covers. (Out today
