MUSIC.

Various/``Vol. 5 1972-1995 Reggae Roots'' (Island)

This 18-song volume includes single tracks from the greatest acts in that storied label's prime reggae years, including Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, Junior Murvin, Aswad, Third World and Black Uhuru. Given the riches involved, I'd have scrunched down the time frame (only five of these songs were released after 1980) and luxuriated in a few more tracks from giants such as Marley, Cliff and Toots Hibbert. But the volume does give a sense of the form's evolution over nearly a quarter-century and, as such, exceeds even the soundtrack from ``The Harder They Come'' as a quickie overview of reggae's essential artists. Four stars

- David Bloom

Sam Newsome & Global Unity/``Sam Newsome & Global Unity'' (Columbia)

The talented young jazz saxophonist heads to Africa and the Near East for inspiration, his soprano in hand and such instruments as oud, udu, congas, dumbek and shekere behind him. For good measure, Newsome throws in a couple of covers from Chick Corea and Mongo Santamaria and an old spiritual. The cross-pollination proves fruitful, with a string of songs informed by lyrical soprano sax melodies, exotic vocal counterpoints and hip-twisting percussion. Three stars

- David Bloom

Cesar Rosas/``Soul Disguise'' (Rykodisc)

Los Lobos singer and guitarist Rosas spins a chunky, funky mix of blues, rock, soul and border sounds that's rootsier, maybe even tastier, than anything his much beloved East L.A. band has done in recent years. Accordionist Flaco Jimenez, Hammond B-3 organ fills, fat fuzzy guitar and sax, and Rosas' gritty vocals stew together on tracks mostly written or co-written by Rosas in pure melting pot heaven. Three and one half stars

- David Bloom

Soundtrack/``Rushmore'' (London)

Writer-director Wes Anderson puts a lot of thought into the music featured in his movies and it shows in this soundtrack, which perfectly captures the alienation and exuberance of its teen protagonist, Max Fischer. Anderson, who co-produced the disc, blends the sounds of loud, angry, teen-age rebellion by such groups as the Who (``A Quick One While He's Away'') and garage band Creation (``Making Time'') with bittersweet, folky songs by Cat Stevens and the Faces (``Ooh La La''). Composer (and former Devo member) Mark Mothersbaugh adds eight baroque instrumental pieces that nicely complement the movie's wistful images. You won't find a better soundtrack this year. Four stars

- Glenn Whipp

Neville Brothers/``Valence Street'' (Columbia)

The latest from New Orleans' first family of funk starts off promisingly with keyboardist and Meters founder Art Neville's arrangement of Gretchen Peters' ``Over Africa.'' But from there, a pattern develops: Every third track or so kicks, what's in between fails to impress. So ``Utterly Beloved,'' inspired somewhat by Toni Morrison's acclaimed novel, doesn't have the passion it should; the usually soaring Aaron phones in ``Little Piece of Heaven'' and a slightly amusing reworking of ``If I Had a Hammer''; and the title track should evoke far more authenticity than it does. After all this time waiting for a new Nevilles effort, this one just doesn't match expectations. One and one half stars

- Ben Wener

Orange County Register

Yo-Yo Ma/``Simply Baroque'' (Sony Classical)

Perhaps the most engaging and engaged of classical superstars, cellist Ma has added hit tango, bluegrass, and contemporary classical essays to his considerable accomplishments in the standard repertoire. This album could be his biggest commercial success yet, as he steps back into the Baroque with a period instrument. His partners in this effort are the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and its ace director, Ton Koopman. The meeting is mainly a fortuitous one, with a set of Bach arias (transcribed for cello by Koopman) and a pair of Boccherini concertos (with cadenzas by Koopman). The brevity of the Bach and the lightweight aspects of the Boccherini lend the disc a nagging sense of incompleteness, which the banal album title reinforces. Yet you would have to have a hard heart not to be moved by Ma's songful takes on ``Erbarme Dich'' from Bach's ``St. Matthew Passion'' and the slow movement of the Boccherini G major concerto. And you would have to have a hard head not to applaud Ma's continuing sense of adventure. Two stars

- Billboard

Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton/``Trio Two'' (Asylum)

Three heavenly voices crash-land on a dispirited sequel to the 1987 traditional country album, ``Trio.'' The set is slicker, but a bit dated - ``Trio Two'' was completed in 1994, then shelved when the three singers couldn't align their schedules for promotion. Ronstadt took five of its 10 songs for her 1995 ``Feels Like Home'' CD. Parton pulled one for her 1996 ``Treasures'' disc. While the material - in particular, Randy Newman's sweeping ballad ``Feels Like Home,'' the toe-tapper ``He Rode All the Way to Texas'' and the lilting ``The Blue Train'' - is primarily top shelf, most of the performances are solo turns with the other two women acting as backup. And now, the reclusive Ronstadt has refused to pose for pictures related to this project (hence, the cover shot of them as children). As such, ``Trio Two'' sounds like stale goods with a sour taste to boot. One and one half stars

- Howard Cohen 

Miami Herald

Soundtrack/``Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' (Atlantic)

With ``Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' seemingly destined to follow ``Rent'' as a '90s-style Broadway sleeper hit, the timing for its cast album release couldn't be better. No matter what the fate of the musical is, the album stands on its own as both a collection of great rock songs and a bona fide opera, with elements of Iggy, Ziggy, ``Tommy,'' and ``The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'' Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, lead vocals by ``Hedwig'' star John Cameron Mitchell, and outstanding musical backing by the show's house band, Cheater, the album flows effortlessly from stinging rockers to bluesy shufflers to pop ballads. Highlights include the folky ``Sugar Daddy''; the Stooges-like theme track ``Angry Inch''; the torchy ``Wig in a Box,'' featuring vocals by Miriam Shor; and the gorgeous, touching ``Wicked Little Town.'' A glorious collision of cabaret, glam rock and musical theater with hit potential to boot. Three stars

- Billboard

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Photo: Sam Newsome & Global Unity utilize the sounds of Africa and Asia in a new album.