SOUND CHECK.

Soundtrack/``Back to Titanic'' (Sony Classical)

The blockbuster that declares love means never having to say you're soggy has spawned a soundtrack sequel, this one featuring Celine Dion's ubiquitous radio-only version of ``My Heart Will Go On'' with dialogue from Jack and Rose. Also included is composer James Horner's new ``Titanic Suite'' and ``Epilogue: The Deep and Timeless Sea,'' two symphonic works with themes from the main score interwoven. Like the original smash-hit soundtrack, the sound of ethereal Norwegian singer Sissel is heard throughout. A pleasant enough souvenir for ``Titanic'' fanatics, but if you're immune to such mass-market piffle, get ready for a deep and timeless sleep. Two Stars

- Fred Shuster

Marilyn Manson/``Mechanical Animals'' (Nothing/Interscope)

Straight from - where else? - the Florida suburbs comes the former Brian Warner, now known as Marilyn Manson, purveyor of warmed-over Alice Cooper theatrics and, on his fourth and latest album, souped-up '70s glam. Actually, the flame-haired Manson and producer Michael Beinhorn have come up with a solid pop-rock effort full of snappy riffs and glossy hooks that owe a debt to Ziggy-era Bowie. On his mostly moronic but harmless previous efforts, Manson sang of serial killers and other assorted demons. Here, his main subject seems to be himself or at least alter-ego Omega, an alien rock star figure who eventually dies on the old rock 'n' roll altar. Ziggy Stardust, call your copyright lawyer! In any case, ``Mechanical Animals'' proves this Manson is a lot smarter than he looks. Three Stars

- Fred Shuster

Lyle Lovett/``Step Inside This House'' (MCA/Curb)

When I first heard about this release, it was the old good news/bad news scenario. Good news: New Lovett. Bad news: He didn't write any of the songs. But unlike Lovett's collection of decent but unremarkable early work, ``I Love Everybody,'' this new double album illuminates his art in ways both moving and profound. With the 21 songs here, Lovett pays a stirring homage to the Texas songwriters, including Townes Van Zandt and Walter Hyatt (four songs apiece), who informed his own career. Droll, dry and achingly bittersweet, these lovingly crafted songs are a natural extension of the brilliant writing Lovett has perfected over the past decade. It's obvious these songs mean a lot to Lovett. After listening to them, they'll mean a lot to you, too. Four Stars

- Glenn Whipp

Goo Goo Dolls/``Dizzy Up the Girl'' (Warner Bros.)

Not only does this Buffalo, N.Y., group sound like Paul Westerberg, singer John Rzeznik looks like him, too. But don't hold that against this good-natured outfit. For their sixth release, the Goo Goos - whose sweet ``City of Angels'' soundtrack ballad ``Iris'' garnered a ton of airplay - polish up the acoustic guitars for a shiny set of Rob Cavallo-produced tunes that start off where the 1996 heartstring-tugger, ``Name,'' ended. ``Dizzy Up the Girl'' is headed straight into the top 40. Three Stars

- Fred Shuster

Long Ryders/``Anthology'' (PolyGram Chronicles)

Founded by onetime local wag Sid Griffin and heavily influenced by Gram Parsons, the now-defunct Long Ryders was the country-punk band that got away. This double-CD compilation chooses the best material from the band's three full-length albums and assorted other releases, showing just how convincing Griffin and company could be. Some of the best tracks stem from the Ryders' first album, ``Native Sons,'' on which ex-Byrd Gene Clark handled guest vocals. Three Stars

- Fred Shuster

Leonard Bernstein/``West Side Story'' and ``On the Town'' (Sony Classical)

Reissued as part of the Columbia Broadway Masterworks series, these Bernstein musicals show off the extraordinary genius of the late composer/conductor, who would have turned 80 this year. While songs like ``New York, New York'' from ``On the Town'' or ``Maria'' from ``West Side Story'' are certainly unforgettable classics, these digitally remastered versions also remind us of Bernstein's brilliance as an arranger. Like the other reissues in the series - ``Cabaret,'' ``My Fair Lady,'' ``A Chorus Line'' - ``Town'' and ``Story'' offer extra music not found on the original releases, in this case extended danced numbers where Bernstein's always surprising orchestrations shine. (Four Stars for each)

- Rob Lowman

Frank Sinatra/``I Remember Tommy,'' ``Sinatra and Swingin' Brass,'' ``Sinatra & Strings'' and ``It Might as Well Be Swing'' (Reprise)

Four new reissues from the early 1960s in the Reprise/Capitol Sinatra ``Entertainer of the Century'' series find the Chairman swinging hard but not quite as magnificently as he once had and would again. ``I Remember Tommy'' (Three) pays tribute to Sinatra's first great orchestra leader with a sentimental batch of tunes associated with his early days as a singer. Neil Hefti's up-tempo arrangements keep ``Sinatra and Swinging Brass'' (Three and One Half Stars) moving at a brisk pace from beginning to end, including the hardest driving version of the Gershwins' ``They Can't Take That Away From Me'' you're likely ever going to hear. Sinatra's authoritative phrasing on ``Pick Yourself Up'' (``Dust yourself off!'') is worth the price of the album alone.

``Sinatra & Strings'' (Three Stars) isn't as fun, particularly if you're familiar with Sinatra's work with master arrangers Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins. Still, there are a number of fine, stately songs including ``Night and Day'' and warhorse weepers like ``Stardust'' and ``Misty.'' The Sinatra-Count Basie collaboration, ``It Might as Well Be Swing'' (Three Stars) isn't their best work. (The superior ``Sinatra-Basie'' should have been reissued first.) But it's hard to argue with ``Fly Me to the Moon'' and ``The Best Is Yet to Come,'' sung with the kind of arrogant swagger that only Sinatra could pull off. The best, indeed.

- Glenn Whipp

Bette Midler/``Bathhouse Betty'' (Warner Bros.)

As always with Midler, she meets expectations of humor, warmth, quirkiness and innuendo in her song selections. The Divine Miss M picks her songs without regard to age, mining American music here back to 1925 for Gus Kahn's ``Ukulele Lady,'' 1935 for ``I Sold My Heart to the Junkman,'' 1955 for ``One Monkey Don't Stop No Show'' (backed by neo-swingsters Royal Crown Revue), and a smattering of up-to-the-minute songs including work by Ben Folds, Jennifer Kimball and Adam Cohen. The gems include ``I'm Beautiful,'' a ripping dance-pop self-affirmation that puts real spice into Girl Power. She easily handles the idiosyncratic phrasing needed for the jazzy Dave Frishberg/Bob Dorough cover ``I'm Hip.'' The implied R-rating on ``Big Socks'' satisfies with its tale of dissatisfaction. But as always with Midler, the slower arrangements can make bleary what her voice crystalizes. ``Song of Bernandette'' by Leonard Cohen (Adam's dad) has had its personality removed, and ``My One True Friend''(from the movie ``One True Thing'') is dull enough to read movie credits over. Two and One Half Stars

- James Hames 

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