SOUND CHECK.

Puff Daddy & the Family/``No Way Out''

Label chief and producer Sean (Puffy) Combs was best friend and mentor to the late Christopher (Notorious B.I.G.) Wallace. He also turned Mary J. Blige and Jodeci into stars and recently collaborated with Aretha Franklin. As a behind-the-scenes hit machine, Combs is a powerful force. But as a solo artist, Combs lacks substance despite street cred-lending cameos from ace rappers Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, the unfortunately named Lox and Biggie himself. The productions here are often surprisingly uninspired. Some of Combs' big ideas include borrowing a chunk of Bowie's ``Let's Dance,'' rewording a Lisa Stansfield chorus, sampling the Police, remaking Grandmaster Flash's ``The Message'' for the 150th time and stuffing this unimaginative exercise with familiar rap cliches - profanity, gunshots and spoken-word drivel. ``No Way Out,'' with its mix of so-so party jams and sugary ballads, breaks no new ground musically or lyrically and, in the end, simply leaves the listener exhausted. One Star

?13- Fred Shuster

Primal Scream/``Vanishing Point''

A thrilling live band, Britain's Primal Scream boasts a healthy regard for Southern soul, dub reggae and ``Exile on Main Street''-era Stones. ``Vanishing Point,'' inspired by the '70s road movie of the same name, is a more mellow experience than previous releases thanks to a jazzy soundtrack feel. With ex-Stone Roses bassist Gary (Mani) Mounfield in tow, singer Bobby Gillespie and company swagger through a set of melodic rock, funk and near-trip-hop tunes with several heady instrumentals and a fine ballad or two thrown in for good measure. Guests include Jamaican dub master Augustus Pablo, the Memphis Horns and Sex Pistol Glen Matlock. Three Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Reef/``Glow''

Championed at home by Paul Weller, Reef delivers a convincing take on late-'60s British blues-rock blended with modern beats. It's classic-rock with a twist, perfectly suited to the touch of Black Crowes producer George Drakoulias. The single, ``Place Your Hands,'' has a catchy two-chord guitar-bass intro Keith Richards would be proud of and a gospel chorus that brings to mind the late, sometimes great Humble Pie. But there's a combustible punk element at work here, too, which places ``Glow'' several paces ahead of garden variety Britpop. While Gary Stringer isn't going to beat Sting in the melodic vocalist stakes, his gritty style suits the material. Benmont Tench of Tom Petty's outfit dabs soulful keyboards throughout this promising sophomore effort. Three Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Clint Black/``Nothin' But the Taillights''

Longtime Clint fans will throw their hats in the air upon hearing a new offering that finds Black in the company of a diverse but fitting bunch of artists such as Martina McBride, Alison Krauss, Marty Stuart and the London Session Orchestra. Along with a taste of bluegrass, some sizzling country-rock workouts and a romantic ballad or three, a standout is the guitar-hero salute, ``Ode to Chet,'' featuring Larry Carlton, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler. The first single, a duet with labelmate McBride on ``Still Holding On,'' is one of many reasons the Clint posse will be coming back for more. Two and One Half Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Various/``The Inner Flame''

Tribute albums generally come in two flavors: dull and duller. But this one features an imaginative high-quality cast gathered to fete the obscure East German-born, Arizona-based, ailing Chicago blues guitarist Rainer Ptacek. The twin forces behind this unexpectedly interesting disc focusing on Ptacek's songs are Robert Plant (who appears with Zepmate Jimmy Page on the droning ``Rude World'') and Giant Sand's Howe Gelb. The reasons to explore the album, though, include Emmylou Harris' low-lights reading of ``The Good Book,'' the PJ Harvey noisefest ``Losin' Ground'' and Madeleine Peyroux's Delta-style ``Life Is Fine.'' Two Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony/``The Art of War''

Congrats to rappers Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone and producer DJ U-Neek, the geniuses behind Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's new double CD. They've come up with what is unquestionably the worst, most unlistenable, completely witless album of the '90s

For your money, along with the status leap inherent in the purchase, you get two hours of gunshots, references to ``Texas Chainsaw Massacre,'' a cameo from that other gigantic talent Tupac Shakur, tons of insipid rhymes and every worn-out cliche in the totally tapped-out gangsta-rap genre. You ask if there's anything as good as Thugs' Grammy-winning hit, ``Tha Crossroads,'' here. To find out, you'll just have to take your fingers out of your ears. No stars.

?13- Fred Shuster

Whiskeytown/``Stranger's Almanac''

The second album from this twangy North Carolina country-rock quintet opens with the sort of instantly lovable tune that forces you to start the album over again. ``Inn Town,'' featuring Ryan Adams' warm vocals, loping beat, sturdy melody and resigned heartbreak fiddle, is so good it nearly overshadows the other dozen songs on display. But Whiskeytown, one of the leading lights of alternative country's burgeoning No Depression movement, boasts other charms, and ``Stranger's Almanac'' is bursting with them. Gram Parsons and Paul Westerberg are often mentioned in relation to Adams; songs like ``16 Days,'' ``Houses on the Hill'' and ``Turn Around'' give the comparisons some weight. Three Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Los Reyes/``Gipsy Legend''

Gipsy Kings fans should have a field day with this collection of fast-paced Latin-flavored pop fueled by the dazzling fretwork of guitarist Mario Reyes. A European concert institution for more than a dozen years, Los Reyes specialize in the flamenco rumba rhythm coupled with the heartfelt bilingual vocals of Antonico Reyes, five of whose songs appear on the Gipsy Kings' recent best-of disc. One easy standout here is the gorgeous tribute ``Corazon Gitano.'' Two Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

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8 Photos

Photo: (1) Primal Scream returns to the racks in a more mellow form with ``Vanishing Point.''

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