I remember buying Steve Winwood's Back in the High Life when it came out and finding it pleasant, listenable and easy-on-the-ears. Now, 11 years later, Winwood is still making pleasant, listenable, easy-on-the-ears music with his latest release for Virgin Records, Junction 7. Featuring guest appearances by Lenny Kravitz, Nile Rogers and Des'ree, Junction is full of the R&B/soul/pop sounds that made Winwood famous. From the soul-infused energy of the first single, "Spy in the House of Love," to the funky bass line of the Sly & the Family Stone remake "Family Affair," Winwood is still doing what he does best. And, while his voice has never exactly blown me away, Junction, at least, proves that he's still got something to say and that he hasn't lost his noted mastery of guitar and Hammond organ. Highlights include the sleepy slow-dancers "Real Love" and "Angel of Mercy," and the slow-grooving "Plenty Lovin'," a duet with Des'ree. The other tracks, quite honestly, don't sound much different from his old stuff³it's all easy-on-the-ears, watered-down R&B funk, with percussion and horns spicing things up here and there. But if that's your pleasure, no one does it better than Winwood. Suggested tracks: "Spy in the House of Love" "Family Affair" "Angel of Mercy"