In Brief

* * Regina Belle, “Passion,” Columbia. Despite the title, most of these songs are antiseptic, particularly “A Whole New World,” her desultory, play-it-safe duet with Peabo Bryson from the movie “Aladdin.” Her third album is cluttered with these wrenchingly emotional, puffed-up ballads. Her earlier albums displayed aggressive flair largely absent here, except on “Tango in Paris,” which features rapper Kool Moe Dee.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).