SOUND CHECK.

DIANA ROSS: ``I Love You'' (Manhattan) - Three stars

For her return to the scene after 10 years, Ross is poised to sponge up a little ``Dreamgirls'' marketing runoff. This warm set of chocolate kisses, designed for maximum Valentine's Day impact, opens and closes with Harry Nilsson's ``Remember,'' providing bookends to love songs by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Marvin Gaye, Queen and others.

Ross is in fine, sultry form here, her familiar tones draped in lush strings, harmony singers and top session players, most notably in a reading of ``You Are So Beautiful.'' If you can stand another version of that old war horse, Ross turns in a creditable performance.

Other items sure to surface during upscale canoodling sessions and wedding receptions include a smoldering Motown-styled ``I Want You,'' Ross' take on the Beatles' tender ``I Will'' and an especially nice version of the '60s hit ``More Today Than Yesterday.'' In stores Tuesday.

-- Fred Shuster

N.W.A.: ``The Strength of Street Knowledge'' (Priority) - Four stars

Compton's N.W.A. finally gets a proper encapsulation of the brief but brilliant career that single-handedly defined West Coast gangsta-rap. This set includes every one of the infamous and often unprintable cuts that made many cringe at a gritty, one-sided, no-holds-barred expose on race relations and ghetto life in Los Angeles. The disc is a seminal manifesto of the gangsta life that continues to influence rappers today. The package includes a DVD featuring interviews, videos, a studio session and more. A must-have for any fan of real old-school gangsta-rap.

-- Len Cutler

JOSH GROBAN: ``With You'' (Hallmark) - Three stars

Hallmark knows how to say ``I love you,'' but few can interpret the sentiment like young Josh Groban. With his rich baritone, the classical pop sensation croons about love, longing and heartache on this ultra-romantic Valentine's Day disc released exclusively for the greeting card giant. It will be available through February only at Hallmark Gold Crown stores. Among the eight songs compiled for this emotional roller coaster is a live recording of ``Broken Vow,'' in which the singer wrestles with a breakup he didn't see coming. He worships ``Mi Morena'' from a window, recalls the moment ``My Heart Was Home Again'' and then skips a beat in ``When You Say You Love Me.'' These songs are better than a box of conversation hearts.

But if Groban's voice, sweeping orchestrations, crashing cymbals and universal themes don't speak to you, there's always a card.

-- Sandra Barrera

GUY CLARK: ``Workbench Songs'' (Dualtone) - Three stars

Nominated in one of those tortuously convoluted Grammy categories (Folksy Americana or something like that), Clark's umpteenth collection of touching life-slices and whimsical novelty tunes is really pure Texas country -- just not the kind of pop pap people mistake for country music nowadays. Mostly collaborations with other writers such as Rodney Crowell and Verlon Thompson, this disc isn't Clark's best. (That would be the just-reissued ``South Coast of Texas.'') But it isn't afraid to be corny (the brokenhearted rodeo clown ditty ``Funny Bone'') or silly (``Analog Girl'' -- she's old-fashioned, y'know?). And it's marvelously well-crafted in a handmade-sounding way, something you don't hear much of anymore in the big country categories.

-- Bob Strauss

LORI MORAN: ``On My Way to You'' (Lori Moran Music) - Three stars

A specter looms over all soprano singers of standards: How much Barbra? That Streisand has such influence begs the question, ``Can I sound like Barbra, even if I'm more jazzy -- and should I?'' Moran strikes the right tone, in ways literal and figurative, and doesn't overdo the Barbra but would appeal to those who love her. Despite occasional overuse of vibrato, her voice is something to behold when she sings it straight. Standouts are ``When You Wish Upon a Star,'' ``Over the Rainbow'' and Cole Porter's seldom-heard ``Give Him the Oo-La-La.'' The presence of guitarist John Pisano and bassist Ken Wild doesn't hurt either.

-- Steven Rosenberg

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(1) no caption (Diana Ross)

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