There is a theory that Janet Jackson's half-time boob job at this year's Super Bowl was an act of sisterhood.

No, not in the feminist sense. We mean sisterhood in the familial sense. Janet, some claim, exposed herself (so to speak) to the wrath of the nation to take the heat off her scandal-plagued brother Michael.

Sure, it sounds nuts. But hey, they're the Jacksons; everything they do is nuts. Next to the hyperbaric chambers, secret marriages and simian playmates, a manipulative "wardrobe malfunction" almost sounds like a good idea.

That's more than we can say for Janet's new CD Damita Jo. Ill-conceived, misguided and at times just plain repulsive, this is a career malfunction of the first degree -- especially in light of her recent controversy. At a time like this, you might expect Janet to take it down a notch, throw on some clothes and act a little more ladylike. You might as well try to keep Michael out of the kiddie pool. From top to bottom, this 22-track affair is a remarkably unsexy sleazefest that makes the boob seen round the world look like small potatoes (again, so to speak).

Start with the cover, which features Janet topless, covering herself with her hands -- like that ship hasn't already sailed. Inside, there's plenty more where that came from. Here's Janet trying to look all seductive, clad in a tiny shred of fabric; there's Janet looking pensive, with her shirt open and boobs pressed together. Does this woman not own a bra?

But if it's true titillation you want, look no further than the lyrics. Pretty much every song on Damita Jo consists of little more than nymphomaniacal come-ons and X-rated overtures. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- up to a point. But listening to cut after cut with titles like Sexhibition, Strawberry Bounce, All Nite (Don't Stop), Moist and Slolove is like being forced to watch an endless porn-movie loop; things quickly go from sexy to boring to offputting. The low point comes in the syrupy Warmth, whose lyrics begin with, "My hands wrapped around / Stroking up and down," and end up in places we can't discuss here. Which raises the question: Can you catch an STD from your headphones?

Of course, this is hardly virgin territory for Jackson. She's been working this horny ho corner for a few albums -- and dragging producers Jimmy Jam and

Terry Lewis along for the ride. As usual, they do their best to keep the musical side of the equation fresher than Jackson's shtik. Though they're stuck in breathy ballad-land for much of this 65-minute one-night stand, Jam and Lewis -- along with trackmasters Dallas Austin, Kanye West, Babyface and others -- slip in a few decently funky grooves. Sexhibition bumps and grinds to a gritty, stripped-down beat; Strawberry Bounce jumps seductively; All Nite (Don't Stop) glides to a slinky, serpentine vibe; R&B Junkie kicks it on the old-school robofunk tip; and Just a Little While is a slice of crunchy guitar rock. Most of them could be hit singles but for Janet's blush-inducing lyrics.

Granted, those lyrics haven't exactly hurt her in the past. But in today's climate, you have to wonder if Janet hasn't miscalculated. All this heavy breathing and phone-sex chatter hardly fits with her post-Super Bowl claims of not wanting to offend. More importantly, you have to ask why an artist of her talent is getting herself stuck in this slutty rut. Is it overcompensation by a performer unsure of her sexuality at age 37? A blatant bid for attention by an artistically bankrupt songwriter willing to substitute controversy for creativity? Only she knows for sure. We just know she can do better than Damita Jo -- and because of that, she oughta be ashamed of herself.

Now, if only Michael could do something wacky to take the spotlight off her. But what are the odds of that ever happening?

Track Listing
1. Looking For Love
2. Damita Jo
3. Sexhibition
4. Strawberry Bounce
5. My Baby (featuring Kanye West)
6. The Islands
7. Spending Time With You
8. Magic Hour
9. Island Life
10. All Nite (Don't Stop)
11. R&B Junkie
12. I Want You
13. Like You Don't Love Me
14. Thinkin' Bout My Ex
15. Warmth
16. Moist
17. It All Comes Down To Love
18. Truly
19. The One
20. SloLove
21. Country
22. Just A Little While