SOUND CHECK LAURA NYRO/``ANGEL IN THE DARK'' (ROUNDER).

Nyro had a naturally soulful voice, but she was also blessed as a songwriter. This disc, recorded in the mid-'90s while she was battling the cancer that would take her life in 1997, offers an exquisite mix of her final numbers and covers of r&b, pop and standards made uniquely her own.

Nyro burst on the scene in the '60s, turning out an amazing array of songs - ``And When I Die,'' ``Wedding Bell Blues,'' ``Stone Soul Picnic,'' ``Sweet Blindness,'' ``Save the Country,'' ``Eli's Comin' '' - many covered by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and the Fifth Dimension.

But no one did Nyro better than Nyro. While out of the public eye during the latter part of her life, ``Angel'' proves she never lost the magic. Whether beautifully crafted originals like ``Sweet Dream Fade,'' ``Gardenia Talk'' and ``Animal Grace'' or elegant readings of ``Walk On By'' and ``Will You Love Me Tomorrow,'' Nyro and her piano remind you of the power of music.

The album ends with ``Coda,'' initially a sliver of the title track's chorus, followed by an unlisted tune, ending with the words, ``so many memories.''

This angel of music has given us many sweet ones. Four star

- Rob Lowman

Duncan Sheik/``Phantom Moon'' (Nonesuch/Atlantic)

Throughout his career, Sheik has often been mentioned in the same breath as Nick Drake, the English singer-songwriter who died in the early '70s and whose haunting ``Pink Moon'' has come into vogue thanks to a car commercial.

While Drake was never more than a cult figure, Sheik landed a 1997 hit with ``Barely Breathing.'' Although the comparisons continue, they're mostly superficial.

If the production here recalls the ethereal and stark Drake, Sheik is a more conventional writer. Songs like ``A Mirror in the Heart'' or ``Mouth on Fire'' can be arresting - but somehow the album never fully gels. Three stars

- R.L.

Old 97's/``Satellite Rides'' (Elektra)

It's easy to view the Old 97's previous record, ``Fight Songs,'' as a transitional effort, one that found the band venturing from their alt-country roots into poppier territory. ``Satellite Rides'' finds them moving even further into power-pop land and doing so with greater conviction and authority.

This instant classic is full of rowdy, howling tunes about tortured love. Singer Rhett Miller's lyrics reek of wit and weird left turns, and when he wails on ``Rollerskate Skinny'' that he believes in love but it don't believe in him, you're most definitely persuaded.

While ``Satellite Songs'' has less twang than the group's earlier efforts, songs like ``Designs on You'' boast more Nashville in 'em than anything you'll hear on country radio these days. Three and one half stars

- Glenn Whipp

Various/``Sounds Eclectic'' (Palm/Rykodisc)

The hot, the fascinating or this month's Next Big Thing invariably make their way to KCRW's tiny Santa Monica studios to perform for NicHarcourt's influential and long-running ``Morning Becomes Eclectic'' weekday program.

The sixth volume in this truly eclectic series features a number of gems. Just take the first three tracks: Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach's ``Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major,'' the hot Brit act Badly Drawn Boy offering ``Magic in the Air'' and Beck covering Hank Williams' ``Lonesome Whistle.'' There's also David Gray's``Babylon'' and welcome numbers by such diverse artists as Bebel Gilberto, Willie Nelson, the Dandy Warhols and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

If you don't like a cut, wait for the next one to roll around. Three and one half stars

- R.L.

Richard Thompson/``Action Packed: The Best of the Capitol Years'' (Capitol)

When you think of Thompson, the words brilliant and virtuoso quickly come to mind. Since his days with acclaimed folk-rockers Fairport Convention in the late '60s, the singer-guitarist has turned out a body of work that would be the envy of most tunesmiths.

Critics and fellow musicians (and several tribute albums) have sung Thompson's praises to the heavens, yet he's never achieved a 10th of the success he richly deserves.

Perhaps too edgy or too stark at times, this new set recorded throughout the '90s revealsThompson's talents and many faces. From rockabilly to zydeco, from tender to nasty, Thompson - whether in his playing or lyrics - shows a wit sorely lacking in most pop composers.

Put on ``1952 Vincent Black Lightning,'' ``Beeswing,'' ``I Feel So Good'' or ``Bathsheba Smiles'' and you'll be snared in Thompson's finely spun web. Four stars

- R.L.

Sasha Alexander/``Dedicated to ...'' (Reprise)

This 28-year-old German-born pop crooner is a sensation in Europe. ``Dedicated to ...'' collects cuts from Alexander's first two discs and although it's filled with pedestrian lyrics like, ``If you believe in love tonight, I'm going to show you one more time,'' you could be won over by the unexpectedly soulful delivery and production.

After the overwrought sounds of homegrown teen-pop (anything by 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys or Britney Spears), Alexander seems remarkably restrained and tasteful. Tunes like ``Something Stupid'' and ``Chemical Reaction'' could even entice buyers other than teen-agers. Three stars

- R.L.

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6 photos

Photo:

(1) LAURA NYRO

(2 -- 6) no caption (cd covers)