RUBEN STUDDARD
Oct. 17
After releasing the 1.8-million-selling R&B CD Soulful, the Velvet Teddy Bear struck out a year later with a foray into gospel, 2004's I Need an Angel. Now he's back to perform some sexual healing with a second R&B release, The Return. In addition to tracks like the seductive ''Get U Loose,'' Return boasts more...introspection? Says Larry Jackson, VP of A&R for J Records: ''He's 27, so the lyrics are from the perspective of a twentysomething man going through trials and tribulations.'' With assists from Scott Storch and Ne-Yo, the disc is still pretty standard R&B. Unless the big man from 'Bama has some surprises up his sleeve, we're not counting out Celebrity Fit Club just yet.