SOUND CHECK.

Jaguar Wright/``Denials, Delusions and Decisions'' (Motive/MCA Records)

When critics compare you to Patti LaBelle and Etta James, or crown you ``the Millie Jackson for Generation X'' as Billboard magazine has pronounced this Philly newcomer, you had better be good.

Jaguar Wright is a 24-year-old r&b vocalist who began captivating audiences with her energizing live show before record companies came calling. She now translates her onstage vigor to her debut, which Vibe magazine describes as having the ``subtlety of a tsunami.''

Under the watchful eye of top r&r producers and musicians, she puts her man in place on the grooving opener ``The What If's'' and pelts an old friend with the same forthrightness on the song ``Ain't Nobody Playin'.'' She plays out songs about forbidden love, self-empowerment and other episodes taken straight from the pages of real life.

Wright proves with this album that she's more than good. She's legit. Four stars

- Sandra Barrera

Koko Taylor/``Deluxe Edition'' (Alligator Records)

This best-of collection from the Earthshaker of blues includes her feral takes on such genre standards as ``Born Under a Bad Sign,'' ``Hey Bartender,'' ``I'd Rather Go Blind'' and ``Wang Dang Doodle,'' as well as kickin', self-penned, title-tells-it blasters (``Voodoo Woman,'' ``Stop Watching Your Enemies''). Taylor's mutant washing machine of a voice is no delicate instrument, but it's surely expressive and always right for the material. Orchestrations are uniformly tight and exuberant, and the all- star accompaniment list includes Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins and Carey Bell. Three and one half stars

- Bob Strauss

Crooked Country/``Drunkard's Lament'' (Rustic Records)

Ornery alcoholic exaltation is, as the album's title indicates, the main concern of Southern Indiana's evocative Purnell brothers, Jason and Toby. Listeners will marvel that such whisky-obsessed ne'er-do-wells can cook with such propulsive, door-swinging precision. But it's upright bass-playing vocalist Merrie Sloan's two contributions, ``Deliah'' and ``True Evil,'' that haunt long after the hangover ends. Three and one half stars

- Bob Strauss

``Group Therapy''/Concrete Blonde (Manifesto Records)

Catching oldies from this classic L.A. alternative rock band on the radio has been just about the only way to hear singer Johnette Napolitano, guitarist and producing whiz Jim Mankey and scary drummer Harry Rushakoff work their magic. The band broke up eight years ago when Rushakoff left.

Now, Concrete Blonde is back together again, somehow picking up where they left off. And doing it quite nicely to boot. Buoyed by tunes like ``Roxy,'' a tribute to Roxy Music, this disc floats along on the Blonde's typical blend of soundboard savvy and just plain good musicianship.

Aptly titled - one of the reasons everyone got back together was to exorcise personal demons - ``Group Therapy'' has bits and pieces of Concrete Blonde's past interwoven with the present. If you look closely, you can see where they've been. Three stars

- Theo Douglas

Renee Rosnes/``Life on Earth'' (Blue Note) Canadian pianist Rosnes has long displayed a flair for original jazz compositions. Here on her eighth Blue Note outing, she expands her repertoire, creating a shimmering album that blends jazz and world music to stunning effect. The album's nine cuts feature a wide range of tinges - Indian, Senegalese, American Indian and Brazilian among them - held together by Rosnes' own distinct musical vision. The playing is exemplary; saxophonist of the moment Chris Potter shines on the Joe Henderson tribute ``Hanuman'' and Steve Turre trots out his collection of musical shells for the funky album closer ``The Call of the Triton.'' An outstanding collection. Three and one half stars

- Glenn Whipp

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(1) no caption (Jaguar Wright)

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