Funk Chicago? you might well laugh. Yet the graphic design of XIV certainly suggests it, with the omnipresent logo incorporated into a black-and-white, smudged-fingerprint motif. And the opening cut is called "Manipulation," which is about as close to an S & M anthem as these guys will ever get. "Manipulation" actually works up some fairly dark energy, with session guitarist Chris Pinnick punching out a fuzz-tone lead. Three Pete Cetera ballads later, however, and you wonder what's going on.

The answer is that Chicago apparently still haven't recovered from the death of guitarist Terry Kath. Kath's "replacement," Donnie Dacus, is gone, too, and the absence of a true lead guitarist leaves the group's essentially Barry Manilowstyle pop sensibility naked. Chicago now sound like the band of wimpy balladeers that people always accused them of being when they were capable of playing interesting music. Maybe there's a hit here somewhere. (RS 331)

JOHN SWENSON