Tame Communards

**THE COMMUNARDS. “Red.” MCA. For all their supposed radicalism in support of gays and socialism, vocalist Jimmy Somerville and keyboards player Richard Coles--a.k.a. the Communards--have turned in a tame second album that fails to deliver on the eclectic promise of their debut LP. On that first effort, elfin-voice Somerville strayed from his Bronski Beat/Hi-NRG roots and did justice to more jazz and blues-oriented material. Here, there are some well-crafted ballads, especially the touching “For a Friend,” which deals with those who’ve lost a loved one to AIDS. But there’s little of the stylistic panache that made the previous album such a surprise. With the exception of the disposable hit remake of the Jackson Five’s “Never Can Say Goodbye,” the up-tempo tracks are pleasant ways to fill a dance floor and the persistent but predictable social messages are no doubt sincere. But the Communards have proved themselves capable of more.