Lovely Standards (2007)

Amel Larrieux kicks off Standards promisingly with ''If I Were a Bell,'' a kooky classic that brings out her playful side. Still, the chanteuse has been predisposed to melancholy ever since she began her career in the neo-soul precursors Groove Theory. This disc, sadly, stays that course. Larrieux handles ballads like Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''Something Wonderful'' with appropriate tenderness — but were she to tackle more upbeat numbers (say, a jaunty Cole Porter joint), this lovely set would gain some much-needed sass. DOWNLOAD THIS: I Like the Sunrise