The new anti-lip-syncing law has already had an effect.

Jennifer Lopez was terrible on the Grammy Awards. I mean really terrible. An embarrassment. Never mind the lame song - some Spanish love ballad - the hype that it was the debut performance with her new hubby Marc Anthony (who can sing), and the fact that they dressed like 19th-century Mexican landowners. The point is that millions of viewers heard an internationally successful recording artist who has no pitch, no tone and no style. In short, Jennifer Lopez can't sing. There are devices that can correct pitch and improve tone, but under the new law, these are also prohibited.

So now we come to J-Lo's sterile new album, on which she sounds just fine. So maybe she had an off-night. Then again, the law doesn't apply to recordings - yet.

What's not to like? You have to like the lead track and bouncy first single, Get Right, memorable only for an insanely repetitive four-note saxophone riff that bores straight into your brain. You have to like steamy nothings like, "I get out with a cat-walk stride, short skirt, golden-brown thighs, Gucci heels, four-inch high." Such imagery. Can almost see her. The rest of Rebirth is bulked with generic love songs in the two basic flavours: Fizzy pop and gooey ballads. Neither yields another Get Right, though the heartbreak song (Can't Believe) This is Me has some spark. J-Lo is a far better actor than she is a singer.

Aside from the sexy photos in the liner notes, the role of J-Lo herself seems rather small. It's as if she's doing cameo appearances in her own production. With the aid, no doubt, of the latest voice-enhancing technology, she sings one banal romantic cliche after another - sample: "I got you, you got me" - as the expertly crafted dance-pop music bumps and grinds behind her. She only has two co-writing credits on the entire record, and for the most part doesn't even break a sweat. Almost free of soul or passion, Rebirth comes off like just another product line in the entertainment/fashion empire that is Jennifer Lopez. Just because you can do everything doesn't mean you should. And by the way, there is no anti-lip-syncing law. Just wishful thinking.

Track Listing:

1. Get Right
2. Step Into My World
3. Hold You Down
4. Whatever You Wanna Do
5. Cherry Pie
6. I Got You
7. Still Around
8. Ride or Die
9. I Love
10. He'll Be Back
11. (Can't Believe) This Is Me
12. Bonus Track: Get Right featuring Fabolous