FALL ALBUM ROUNDUP : In Brief

* * * Gerald Levert, “Groove On,” EastWest. While some of these grunting, groaning tracks are standard R&B;, Levert throws a few curveballs. There’s a surprisingly tender, David Foster-produced track, “I’d Give Anything,” along with “How Many Times,” a caressing plea to a potential lover stuck in an abusive relationship. At his best, the singer recalls the Philly-flavored brawn of his famous dad, O’Jay Eddie Levert.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).