Blige's 'Life': Feel the attraction

MARY J. BLIGE, Sigur Ros, the Sounds of Blackness and Chris Cornell offer extra reasons to be thankful with their new album releases.

MARY, NOT CONTRARY: While not nearly as emotionally stressed out and tottering on the brink as its riveting predecessor, Mary J. Blige's "My Life II . . . The Journey Continues: Act 1" (Geffen, B+) will surely lure many listeners into her world again. Yeah, that's Diddy on the phone, urging Blige to pick up the story thread 17 years later. And, always her pleasure, many celebrity friends rally round. First half is stocked with radio-friendly hip-hoppin' thumpers - Nas and Blige crave to "Feel Inside" (scored over Wu-Tang's "Triumph"), Busta Rhymes helps her to the "Next Level" while Drake plays the bad guy on "Mr. Wrong."

But Blige's vocal powers shine best on the poppier stuff, including a snappy cover of the Rufus (with Chaka Khan) hit "Ain't Nobody," and the more dramatic ballad material that takes control in the second act. Like an instructive tough cop/sweet cop duet with Beyoncé defining how to "Love a Woman"; the sensitive, soul-struck "Empty Prayers" and "Need Someone"; and a country-tinged, self-affirming set-capper, "Living Proof." The pricier deluxe edition adds a couple of bonus tunes - decent though anticlimactic.

MORE SOUL II SOUL: For a super-joyous and spiritual high (with no annoying hangover) it's hard to beat the self-titled set from "The Sounds of Blackness" (Malaco, A-). Blessed with many a dynamic, lead-sharing vocalist and gospel-rockin' tunes that evoke the glory days of Kool & the Gang almost as much as Kirk Franklin's choir work, TSOB deploy music as a spiritual force, comfort food and instrument for change. We're all in this together, so "have fun, do good, live well."

OLD SCHOOL IN SESSION: Time has stood still for soul chanteuse Maysa on "Motions of Love" (Shanachie, B). She once was a backup singer to Stevie Wonder, who collaborates as writer of the standout track "Have Sweet Dreams." And Maysa's fervent cover of Angela Bofill's hit "I Try" is to die for.

ROCK AND A GOOD PLACE: Touches of "Dylan-esque" role modeling still remain in the work of raspy-voiced singer/songwriter vet Willie Nile, heard on his new album "The Innocent Ones" (River House Records, A-). But now there's also some pumping punk rock ("Can't Stay Home") in the Clash vein, and happy (Buddy) Holly-days a-shining on the instant classic "My Little Girl." All made me realize how much I've liked (and have been missing) this hungry, still striving talent.

Also alluding on occasion to Buddy Holly is one James McCartney on "The Complete EP Collection" (Maybe Not, B-) produced by David Kahne and another Holly-phile, Paul McCartney. James also pays tribute to the latter on "I Love You Dad." While pleasant, this set is more interesting in the abstract than the real.

CONCERT SETS: The icy, austere musical magic that is Sigur Ros often seems very much a studio creation. Yet, lo and behold, the Icelandic troupe works the same haunting, ambient charms on its first concert set "Inni" (XL, A). The nearly two-hour performance is bundled as two CDs plus a DVD or Blu-ray video. Visuals are virtually monochromatic, though the surround sound mix is exceptionally lively.

The frontman for Soundgarden/Audioslave is also full of surprises on his concert disc "Chris Cornell" (UM, B+), serving up equally impactful solo/acoustic performances of gems like "Black Hole Sun."