Tough Lassie

** 1/2SHEENA EASTON. “The Lover in Me.” MCA. Easton’s moved to a new record label and she’s also opted for a new sound: tough, gritty, black-styled. On a few tracks the maneuver seems just the shot of adrenaline that this Scottish chanteuse needed.

It works best on the title cut, produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid, who have worked with the Whispers and Bobby Brown. While the Whispers--an ultra-suave R&B; unit--probably could have torn the roof off with this number, Easton proves that she’s no stranger to urban penthouse funk. Vocally, she gets adventurous with the song’s doo-wop stylings without embarrassing herself or straining for effect.

Prince--billed as “Joey Coco” on the liner credits--supplied her with the album’s other stand-out track, the dark, mood-evoking “101.” Easton, ever the urgent persuader, declares: “100 days without you is murder, baby / 101 just won’t do.” The track featuring Easton’s strongest, most effective vocals is the bluesy, Angela Winbush-produced “Without You.” The rest of the album is in the fair-to-middling range. Easton’s got gutsy image to spare, but some of her material needs more muscle.