SOUND CHECK.

Britney Spears/``Britney'' (Jive)

Despite constant grumbling from the anti-Britney faction, the glittery gal's certainly got a lot of the right stuff.

There's the sexy video-driven image kids are intrigued by, an unpretentious voice that works just fine on radio and record, a factory of shrewd pop hitmakers in her corner and, most importantly, a work ethic that's probably the most ironclad in today's music scene.

The only people complaining are out of the target demographic anyway. While we might fit that category, you'll hear few complaints from this camp.

The biggest drawback to Spears' just-issued third album, a soft-core set of lusty dance tracks and cooing love ballads seemingly designed as a soundtrack for both the mall and that ``gentlemen's club'' near the airport, is the lack of standout songs.

Not that it really matters. At 19, Spears is an unflappable entertainment machine, perfectly capable of delivering steely come-ons like ``I'm a Slave 4 U'' and ``Boys,'' a passable cover of Joan Jett's '80s hit ``I Love Rock 'n' Roll'' and the breathy ballad ``I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman'' while leading a team of hoofers in flashy nonstop routines.

On the level of well-produced, money-minting radio and video fodder, the disc is mildly diverting, upbeat and occasionally even memorable.

You want depth, buy a Leonard Cohen album. And you can take that to the bank, where you'll be in line behind Britney. Two stars

- Fred Shuster

Yonder Mountain String Band/``Town by Town'' (Frog Pad) If Jerry Garcia had cut his hair more, he may have wound up in an outfit like Yonder Mountain String Band.

Four young bluegrass enthusiasts from Colorado, the group specializes in clean, crisp picking that reaches the far limits of endurance (the last track listed - there's a hidden one about dancing sailors - clocks in at just under a finger-shredding 10 minutes).

Talk about getting lost in the mountains; this is the band to take you there. Catch them Wednesday at Vynyl in Hollywood. Three stars

- Bob Strauss

Bebo Valdes/``El Arte del Sabor'' (Blue Note) Cuban music is ubiquitous since the Buena Vista Social Club took off, but there are still discs that deserve attention.

Valdes, 73, was a standout in last year's excellent ``Calle 54'' documentary, and this album finds the pianist (whose son is electrifying jazz pianist Chucho Valdes) at the top of his game.

Of course, the company he's keeping is extraordinary - Valdes is joined by bass legend Israel ``Cachao'' Lopez, percussionist Carlos ``Patato'' Valdes and, on three tracks, saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera.

The music is a sweet set of lovely Cuban rhythms played with grace and authority, exemplifying the album's title in translation - ``The Art of Flavor.'' Three stars and one half stars

- Glenn Whipp

Merle Haggard/``Roots Volume 1'' (Anti/Epitaph) Recorded in Hag's living room, this effort is essentially about finally getting around to recording all those Lefty Frizzell tunes that were such an influence.

Lefty's original guitarist, Norm Stephens, plays along with the usual Strangers, and the mood is honky-tonk - smooth, perfectly crafted but rarely scintillating.

Three new Merle compositions (``More Than My Old Guitar'' is the standout) and one Hank cover each (Williams and Thompson) round out this nostalgic reconstruction party. Three stars

- B.S.

Quincy Jones: ``The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones''

(Rhino) This excellent four-disc box is the musical companion to Jones' recently published autobiography and, like the book, it is both entertaining and illuminating.

Jones is known to most as the producer of Michael Jackson's biggest hits, but he began his career writing and arranging songs for jazz greats like Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley and Count Basie's Orchestra.

The first disc collects these sturdy jazz sides; the second consists of Jones' film work, which includes ``Soul Bossa Nova,'' the song that ended up as the theme for an ``Austin Powers'' movie 38 years after it was recorded.

There's also a generous sampling from Jones' albums featuring the likes of James Ingram and Luther Vandross, as well as the '80s anthem ``We Are the World.''

Comprehensive, wide-ranging and generally engaging, this is a fantastic slice of the last 40 years of American music. Four stars

- G.W.

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Photo:

(1) no caption (Britney Spears)

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