SOUND CHECK.

Gregg Allman/``Searching for Simplicity''

A new solo album from grizzled Gregg isn't usually cause for celebration, but this one's a sure-fire winner and easily one of the best blues albums of last year. Opening with a soulful semi-acoustic ``Whippin' Post,'' Allman snatches the longtime Allman Brothers Band concert staple back from the land of rock cliche. Spotlighting a spare, tight band of studio pros anchored by the excellent Bill Stewart on drums and longtime blues producers Tom Dowd and Johnny Sandlin at the controls, the disc goes from strength to strength. Allman, who plays lowdown Hammond B-3 organ on most tracks, is in fine form throughout, his voice a whiskey-soaked thing of black 'n' blue beauty. Other memorable moments include a cover of the Southern soul standard, ``Dark End of the Street'' and several strong Allman originals. Three and One Half Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

The David Arnold James Bond Project/``Shaken And Stirred''

Producer-composer Arnold's concept was to have a range of artists, including Chrissie Hynde, Iggy Pop, ABC's Martin Fry and Pulp interpret James Bond movie music. It rarely works, chiefly because the songs themselves are so awful. Poor Hynde is lumbered with Paul McCartney's monolithic ``Live and Let Die,'' Aimee Mann is stuck with the equally terrible ``Nobody Does It Better,'' and Massive Attack collaborator Shara Nelson is wasted on a dull ``Moonraker.'' The one saving grace here is fey Brit vocalist David McAlmont's mildly subversive ``Diamonds Are Forever.'' One Star

?13- Fred Shuster

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters/``The Colour of Love''

Stellar ex-Roomful of Blues guitarist Earl stretches out for delightful results on this amalgam of blues, rock, r&b, jazz and soul. Produced by Tom Dowd, the effort takes flight straight from the Cornell Dupree-inspired shuffle ``O' Yeah'' to the 10-minute title track. Along the way, the lyrical Earl gives us a gorgeous read on the jazz standard ``Round Midnight'' and peppers ``Bonnie's Blues'' with Latin fireworks. Cameos from Gregg Allman and alto saxophonist Hank Crawford add spice, but the album belongs to the remarkably good Earl. Three and One Half Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Mick Harvey/``Pink Elephants''

Best known as Nick Cave's partner in the Bad Seeds, Harvey now offers a second volume of music originally created by France's notorious Serge Gainsbourg. The songs of Gainsbourg, the subject of no less than three anthologies last year, have been covered before by others, but nobody's equaled the efforts of Harvey, who translated some of Gainsbourg's best material into English on 1995's ``Intoxicated Man'' and now here. Gainsbourg was a songwriter who infused his material with often depraved subject matter many years before subversive pop became commonplace. One delight on ``Pink Elephants'' is the translation of the much-banned ``Je T'Aime.'' Three Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Ted Hawkins/``The Final Tour''

Street singer Hawkins was a fixture on the Venice boardwalk for years before he was signed to a major label in 1994 and died a year later. This album captures the gritty-voiced Hawkins on stage, mostly in front of a warm hometown crowd at McCabe's. As a performer, Hawkins was an oddity, strumming his guitar in open tuning with an inch-long acrylic nail on his right hand and a glove on his left, perched on a milk crate with a wooden tap board at his feet. But he was a soulful singer, if a limited composer, and it shows on standouts like ``There Stands the Glass'' and ``Watch Your Step.'' Two Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

AquaVelvets/``Guitar Noir''

Don't underestimate San Francisco's AquaVelvets. Instrumental pop inspired by '50s and '60s film and TV music enjoys a cult following. Yes, fans of this stuff admittedly wear pocket protectors, nerd glasses and collect insects, but they're out there supporting goofy bands like our heroes here. The AquaVelvets are better than most. For a start, the quartet doesn't slavishly imitate others or attempt to duplicate the past. All songs on the aptly titled ``Guitar Noir'' are originals and many are quite good. Plus, guitarist Miles Corbin can really play. Now where did that praying mantis go? Three Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Mary Coughlan/``Live in Galway''

Irish singer Mary Coughlan's acclaimed ``After the Fall,'' a more recent album than this live effort from 1995, addresses the hard times she went through when she became an alcoholic 11 years ago. ``Live in Galway'' captures the beginning of her journey back. The disc, on which Coughlan is backed simply by guitar, woodwinds and piano, contains some warm performances, such as the affecting ``Magdalen Laundry'' and the lovely ``Hearts.'' Two and One Half Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Babybird/``Ugly Beautiful''

British critics' darling Babybird (real name Stephen Jones) is known for slightly demented soul-inflected love songs. Chief among them here is ``You're Gorgeous,'' an irresistible pop single that could become a radio hit in the New Year since once you hear it, it's stuck in your head forever. Inspired by hip-hop as well as eerie film music, Jones comes up with other interesting arrangements, notably on tracks like the dark ``Too Handsome to Be Homeless'' and ``45 & Fat.'' Inventive stuff, but we could do without the repulsive photos in the CD booklet that suggest Babybird's trying just a little too hard to be hip. Two and One Half Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Various/``Featuring ... Ice Cube''

Not a solo best-of collection exactly, this disc instead offers rapper Ice Cube's various cameos on tracks with George Clinton, Das EFX, Chuck D., Ice-T, Scarface and others. Cube's best collaborative work was with Westside Connection last year, so if you already own that outfit's top-10 album, you've already got the track ``Bow Down'' available here. Most of this stuff is simply one-dimensional junk, but it's good to hear ``Check Yo Self,'' based on a sample from hip-hop classic ``The Message,'' once again. One and One Half Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

The Negro Problem/``Post Minstrel Syndrome''

This oddly named local group shines on its well-received indie debut. Much has been made about lead-off cut ``Birdcage,'' but what really impresses is the band's sense of melody and creative arrangements. Lead singer Stew (one name only) is obviously a big pop fan, and tracks like ``Buzzing'' and ``Miss Jones'' could work nicely right after the Spice Girls on the car radio. Three Stars

?13- Fred Shuster

Various/``Live From 6A: Great Musical Performances From `Late Night With Conan O'Brien' ''

This set aims for a young demographic, the only graybeards being Elvis Costello, the wonderfully odd Jonathan Richman and David Bowie (who's followed shortly by sound-alike Edwyn Collins). But whereas there are standout turns from Bjork, Ani DiFranco and Matthew Sweet (a deliciously crunchy take on ELO's ``Do Ya''), Soul Coughing, 311 and Jamiroquai are big letdowns. Two and One Half Stars

CAPTION(S):

10 Photos

Photo: (1) Ronnie Earl offers a mix of blues, rock, r&b, jazz and soul on ``The Colour of Love.''

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