Allure gives Artest a tempting quality act

Ron Artest may have had people scratching their heads when he asked the Indiana Pacers for a few days off early in the season to promote an album on his new record label. At least he seems to be making an honest effort to put out some music.

In Allure, he has a female R&B group that needed Artest-like tenacity just to stay in the business. Despite three Top 40 pop hits since 1997 -Head Over Heels, All Cried Out and Enjoy Yourself- the group twice lost recording deals because the labels it was on folded.

Allure hopes its luck changes with third album Chapter III (2 ½ stars out of four), in stores today on Artest's Lightyear/WEA-distributed Truwarier Records. They offer a blend of bouncy club tunes and sumptuous ballads, which are their strong suit. The harmonies soar as they spin tales of joy and heartache. But except for first single Uh Oh featuring reggae star Elephant Man, the up-tempo tracks are fairly pedestrian.

Still, this isn't a bad for the first wide release for the fledgling label. It does face the daunting task of getting attention during the holiday season when the market is flooded with blockbuster releases from everybody from Eminem and Snoop Dogg to Destiny's Child and U2. So far, the single has not dented the radio charts.

The good thing about the album is it doesn't come across as a vanity-driven project like the rap efforts of such fellow NBA stars as Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson or Kobe Bryant. Except for a P. Diddy-like intro at the beginning and a short verse on album closer I Feel So, Artest keeps to the background. He promises to take center stage soon, though, with a solo album sold on his Web site, Truwarierrecords.com.