In Brief

* *1/2 Robert Cray, “I Was Warned,” Mercury. Cray is undeniably a solid all-around talent, but in some ways still not a fully matured one on this, his seventh album. He has the smarts for good material, a nervous, astringent touch on the guitar and a rangy, distinctive voice. But Cray still sounds callow compared to the greats he emulates (foremost are Otis Redding and Bobby Bland). Great soul singers cut to the aching marrow and sing; Cray doesn’t probe nearly so deep. Perhaps if age burnishes and thickens his pinched, piping vocal tone, he will become more convincing.