SOUND CHECK.

Don Henley/``Inside Job'' (Warner Bros.)

``It's a cold, cold, cold post post-modern world.'' Henley's long- awaited new record is a chronicle of the years since 1989's ``The End of the Innocence,'' a caustic look at society and technology with dense, carefully crafted results that reward with repeat listenings. Like the earlier effort, the Eagles drummer-singer artfully and tunefully points the finger - at selfish types (``Nobody Else in the World but You''), captains of industry (``Goodbye to a River''), UFO believers (``They're Not Here, They're Not Coming'') and almost everyone else (``Workin' It''). Produced by Henley and ex-Tom Petty band member Stan Lynch, the pristine-sounding disc (in stores Tuesday) features cameos from Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman and Jimmie Vaughan along with a couple Eagles. Best of all are the album's love songs, ``Annabel'' and ``Taking You Home,'' which ring with gorgeous harmonies to warm the heart of Eagles fanciers everywhere. Three and one half stars.

Elvin Jones/``The Complete Blue Note Elvin Jones Sessions'' (Mosaic)

Renowned for lyrical, inventive timekeeping in the John Coltrane Quartet of the '60s, Jones has been leading his own bands for 30 years, pausing to record a number of fine albums. This eight-disc treasure trove from the acclaimed archivist label Mosaic collects all the material the drummer cut as a leader between 1968 and 1973. Jones had an eye for talent and his post-bop groups featured some marvelous well-known players, including versatile reedman-flutist Joe Farrell, Coltrane bassist Jimmy Garrison, trumpeter Lee Morgan, saxophonist George Coleman and baritone saxist Pepper Adams. But Jones also nurtured two young and gifted saxophonists in the '70s - David Liebman and Steve Grossman - and they provide plenty of fireworks in this album's hard-hitting final two discs cut at a 1972 date at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Mosaic recordings are available solely through the label, 35 Melrose Place, Stamford, Conn. 06902; [phone] or through the Web site: www.mosaicrecords.com. Four stars

- Fred Shuster

Stacey Earle/``Dancin' With Them That Brung Me'' (Gearle Records)

The second album from roots music icon Steve Earle's little sister is a marked improvement over her first, sparer, more precious outing. Stacey Earle keeps the production a family affair - husband Mark Stuart arranged, vocalized and picked on most of the cuts; son Kyle Mims played drums - and the songs have a warm, cake-and-coffee-at-the-kitchen-table kind of conversational quality. Earle's ultra-twangy voice sometimes makes you think of Holly Hunter sucking helium, but it's grown richer and more evocative over the past two years, in much the same way as her songs' poetic and observational qualities have deepened. Three and one half stars

- Bob Strauss

Fatboy Slim/``On the Floor at the Big Beat Boutique'' (Astralwerks)

Norman ``Fatboy Slim'' Cook's previous ``You've Come a Long Way, Baby'' was one of the biggest-selling crossover albums ever. This new effort, recorded during a giddy night at Cook's spiritual home, the Big Beat Boutique dance club in Brighton, England, finds the DJ and turntablist remixing a variety of dance anthems and old school platters, destined to keep hands in the air and the floor filled. Cook works his genre-trashing magic by breaking down the original tracks to add beats, samples and other effects for often thrilling results. And he's not afraid to turn the tables on himself: One of the album's highlights is a remix of Slim's own chart-busting ``The Rockafeller Skank.'' Three stars

- F.S.

Soundtrack/``Mission: Impossible 2'' (Hollywood)

Among this noisy soundtrack's main selling points is Metallica's first movie song, ``I Disappear,'' and for anyone immune to the charms of the murky metal outfit, you wish they would. Other reasons to either avoid this disc at any cost or immediately rush out and buy: Limp Bizkit's skewed version of the thriller's Lalo Schifrin-penned theme, a Foo Fighters/Brian May cover of Pink Floyd's ``Have a Cigar'' plus new or reworked tunes from Rob Zombie, Tori Amos, Chris Cornell, Buckcherry and Kid Rock's DJ, Uncle Kracker. Two and one half stars

- F.S.

Billy Joel/``2000 Years: The Millennium Concert'' (Columbia)

The Piano Man has never released a decent live album in his storied career, and this two-disc set, recorded on New Year's Eve at Madison Square Garden, tries hard to fill the bill. There's much here for long-time fans to enjoy. The 25-song set covers most of Joel's biggest hits (``Just the Way You Are'' is noticeably absent) and includes a smattering of tracks from his early career (``Summer Highland Falls,'' ``The Ballad of Billy the Kid'' and ``Angry Young Man'' being highlights). Joel's latest tour was an artistic success, but what plays well in the arena doesn't always translate to enjoyable listening at home. Some of the songs are simply too bombastic, both in their arrangements and Joel's manic delivery. Diehards won't mind, but this concert isn't going to convert any new believers. Three stars

- Glenn Whipp

Lee Ann Womack/``I Hope You Dance'' (MCA)

A quiet jewel, Womack's MCA debut smacks of authenticity, from the downhome country swing of Buddy and Julie Miller's scorching ``Does My Ring Burn Your Finger'' to the Tammy Wynette quiver of the divorcee's lament, ``Stronger Than I Am.'' Along the way, the sweet-voiced Texas songbird adds some percolating honky tonk to her own ``Feel Like I'm Forgetting Something'' and the sweeping title track. Rather than use one band, Womack called in guests such as Ricky Scaggs, the Lonesome River Band, the Sons of the Desert, and the Millers for an album that gives country back its good name. In stores Tuesday. Three stars.

- F.S.

Primal Scream/``Exterminator'' (Astralwerks)

Primal Scream's sixth studio outing throws sonic spanners in the works for a dozen urgent tracks that add up to one of the most abrasive and uncompromising discs of the year. Guest musicians, programmers and remixers were asked in, apparently to see how over-the-top they could make this material with song structure and melodies buried somewhere far below the angry murk. One listen will leave you with a hangover. Two stars

- F.S.

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4 photos

Photo: (1) no caption (Don Henley)

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