SOUND CHECK : POP.

Grateful Dead/``Dick's Picks 4''

More than another souvenir for their unquenchable fans, a live Dead album from the early days offers a musicology lesson - a glimpse into the vibrancy, the urgency of many of the group's songs before they lost luster in later years.

``China Cat Sunflower'' and ``Dire Wolf'' were rarely performed as robustly as at the fabled 1970 Valentine weekend gigs at the Fillmore East, the material chronicled in ``Dick's Picks 4'' (Grateful Dead Records). The transition from ``I Know You Rider'' to ``High Time'' is like buttah.

It was a period when concertgoers showed up expressly to hear the band's blues-singing golden boy, Pig Pen, wail through gems like ``Alligator'' and ``Caution.''

Most of the three-CD set is a spacefest - generally a good thing - with half-hour versions of ``Dark Star,'' ``That's It for the Other One'' and ``Turn on Your Lovelight.'' But, as evidenced here, some tunes should never have been attempted by the boys, especially ``Dancing in the Streets'' and ``Mason's Children.'' Lock those back in the vault, and throw away the key. Three Stars

SOURCE: - Brett Pauly Mark Eitzel/``60 Watt Silver Lining''

To be sure, American Music Club founder Mark Eitzel is one of pop music's more ambitious lyrical visionaries working today. And true to his thesis, he populates ``Silver Lining'' (Warner Bros.), his first solo album, with imagery of the sea, the undertow, the horizon, shipwrecks, icebergs, infinity and relenting despair. Eitzel's poems are set to elegant jazz arrangements and spare horn-driven pop-rock orchestration. Highlights include the ebullient ``Sacred Heart,'' the wry ``When My Plane Finally Goes Down,'' the brilliant ``Some Bartenders Have the Gift of Pardon'' and the melancholy ``Mission Rock Resort. ``Silver Lining'' - as close to a classic as rock produces these days - should be heard by anyone who has ever contemplated suicide at the edge of the ocean, and gone for a swim instead. Three Stars

SOURCE: - Jim Walsh Pulp/``Different Class''

Ever since Jarvis Cocker disrupted a Michael Jackson performance at last month's Brit Awards (the British equivalent of the Grammys) the leader of Pulp has been an English national hero. And bully for him: Cocker is the most charismatic figure of the Britpop invasion. ``Different Class'' (Island) bounces and swoons to a guitar and keyboard pleasure principle while Cocker arms himself with wit. He delivers literate, working-class-conscious romances in a Bowie-esque croon that barely conceals seething anger. Cocker may be too verbose and too English to break through on this side of the pond. That would be our loss. Two Stars

SOURCE: - Dan DeLuca COUNTRY Steve Earle/``I Feel Alright''

Steve Earle might not know it, but God has blessed him. Making a splash with his brash 1986 country debut, ``Guitar Town,'' Earle soon faltered, going straight to hell via drug addiction, marital problems and frequent brushes with the law.

But someone is watching over Earle. Last year, he dusted off some early gems and a cache of covers and made a quiet, solemn statement with the acoustic ``Train A Comin'.'' ``Feel Alright'' (Warner Bros.) flips the coin, as Earle claims his freedom and exults in his redemption, and ``Hurtin' Me, Hurtin' You'' is the closest he's ever come to a genuine apology. God might have blessed Steve Earle; in return, Earle has blessed us by offering up his music. Three Stars

SOURCE: - Vickie Gilmer Diamond Rio/``IV''

In country music, it's common practice to record your albums with top-shelf studio musicians and then tour with a separate road band. Country sextet Diamond Rio is an all-in-one package, a self-contained unit in which each member is on par with Nashville's best. It's not surprising they are currently country's hottest band and a three-time Country Music Association Vocal Group award winner.

``IV'' (Arista) isn't much of a departure from Diamond Rio's three previous albums. There's an abundance of catchy hooks, some spry bluegrass-inspired musicianship, and sentimental lyrics. The latter is the most ordinary aspect of ``IV''; otherwise you'll find a bit more aggression here - a punchy closing instrumental using voices as a percussive instrument (``Big''), and a surefire concert stomper in the opening rouser, ``Holdin,'' which makes good use of the group's harmonies. Three Stars

SOURCE: - Howard Cohen  Steve Wariner/``No More Mr. Nice Guy''

Pop star Neil Diamond cuts a country-flavored record and it's a Top 3 hit on Billboard's current Country Albums chart. Now, country vocalist Steve Wariner records an instrumental guitar CD that's only part country. ``Nice Guy'' (Arista) features rockabilly, ballads, pop/rock, guest stars Richie Sambora (of Bon Jovi), Vince Gill, Leo Kotke, Chet Atkins, plus many others, and a strutting march with Bela Fleck. Is the country market getting more accepting or just starving for new gimmicks?

Two oddities doesn't make a trend, but that hit-driven Arista would allow one of its flagship artists to release an instrumental record in 1996 is commendable, since commercial prospects are nil - even if the album is as well-produced and enjoyable as this one. Three Stars

SOURCE: - Howard Cohen SOURCE: Compiled from staff and wire services.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1) Country sextet Diamond Rio's ``IV'' offers abit more aggression than the group's earlier albums, but still features an abundance of catchy hooks and bluegrass-inspired licks.

(2) American Music Club founder Mark Eitzel has released his first solo album, ``60 Watt Silver Lining,'' on Warner Bros. Records.

(3) Troubled Steve Earle continues his comeback on ``I Feel Alright.''