SOUND CHECK.

Beck/``Midnite Vultures'' (DGC/Geffen)

Only Beck would rhyme Van Nuys takeout joint Zankou Chicken with ``ripe for the pickin'.'' It comes on his concert staple, the soul ballad ``Debra'' (``I want to get with you . . . and your sister/I think her name's Debra''), one of many party-hearty tracks on Beck's witty tribute to r&b, ``Midnite Vultures'' (in stores Tuesday). The entertaining new disc, follow-up to the fractured hip-hop of 1996's acclaimed ``Odelay,'' reveals Beck-as-Superfly, a love man singing surreal lyrics in a Prince falsetto and backed by the likes of ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, techno-folkie Beth Orton and ``Odelay'' producers the Dust Brothers. Take a look at the titles and you'll get the idea: ``Hollywood Freaks,'' ``Nicotine and Gravy,'' ``Mixed Bizness,'' ``Peaches & Cream,'' ``Get Real Paid'' and album-opener ``Sexx Laws,'' the horn-driven KROQ staple in which Beck wants to ``defy the logic of all sex laws.'' A funky good time. Three and one half stars

- Fred Shuster

Faith Hill/``Breathe'' (Warner Bros.)

Hill's charmless fourth album makes Shania Twain look like Rose Maddox. Actually, ``Breathe,'' the follow-up to last year's multiplatinum ``Faith,'' tries to transform Mrs. Tim McGraw into Twain herself. There's a series of suggestive fashion photos, shrill over-the-top production and some truly awful material of confused origin designed to put Hill onto the pop charts. Perhaps the worst moment is ``Bringing Out the Elvis,'' an atrocity that's supposed to be sly but comes off all wrong. Then, there's the generic cover of Bruce Springsteen's ``If I Should Fall Behind,'' which won't make anyone forget the version Bruce himself performs on his current tour. ``Breathe?'' Do we have to? One and one half stars

- F.S.

Save Ferris/``Modified'' (Epic)

Orange County ska outfit Save Ferris matures on ``Modified,'' and that's not necessarily a good thing. Certainly the band couldn't go on recording peppy novelty ditties like ``Spam'' and enjoy a long-lasting career, but the pop songs they've come up with here are an uneven batch lacking distinction. Singer Monique Powell connects with the string-laden ballad ``Let Me In,'' and a couple of songs display the old fiery fun and irresistible hooks. Too much of the album, however, sounds generic, which is something you could never say about the band's earlier work. Call ``Modified'' one step forward, two steps back. Two and one half stars

- Glenn Whipp

Stevie Wonder/``At the Close of a Century'' (Universal)

Wonder cut three brilliant albums in 1972-73 - ``Music of My Mind,'' ``Talking Book'' and ``Innervisions'' - while subsequent releases were spotty. This recommended four-disc box (due Tuesday) is the perfect Wonder retrospective as it chooses only the cream, leaving behind the symphonic odes to the secret life of plants and other pretentious moments. Along with beautifully remastered versions of Wonder's classic early Motown singles, plus ``Superwoman'' (highlighted by Buzzy Feiten's dazzling guitar), ``Superstition,'' ``Boogie On, Reggae Woman,'' ``Master Blaster (Jammin'),'' ``That Girl'' and other terrific tunes, there's a rare 1967 version of ``Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do),'' which Wonder gave to Aretha Franklin. Four stars

- F.S.

Lynn Morris/``You'll Never Be the Sun'' (Rounder)

This spring release from one of America's most thoughtfully understated bluegrass ensembles reverberates with elegant musicianship and low-key, intensely focused singing. Guitarist Morris and her bass-playing partner Marshall Wilborn, teaming for the first time with mandolinist Jesse Brock and neo-old-timer fiddler Ron Stewart, produce a disc rich in rueful humor and reverent emotion. Morris' gentle West Texas timbre gives spiritual songs like James Leva's ``Love Beyond'' a lusty undertow, and lusty songs a keening spirituality. Morris' wistful honesty is particularly affecting in wittily heartbroken numbers like ``Long Train of Fools'' and ``Scraps From Your Table.'' Wilborn demonstrates his own wryly humorous vocal skills on ``Seventeen Cents'' and the swingy ``Destination Love,'' a jaunty musical travelogue of a lover's soul. ``Twister,'' a three-minute instrumental whirlwind of mandolin and fiddle, is an urbane version of an old-fashioned Appalachian free-for-all. Three stars

- Reed Johnson

Prince/``Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic'' (NPG/Arista)

The Artist Nobody Cares About Anymore comes momentarily out of his purple slump for a nicely funky collection of party anthems and hip-hop spiked ballads. ``Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic'' is a lean, smart set packed with good melodies and tight playing. Best moments here include the soulful title track, the infectious pop-funk confection ``The Greatest Romance Ever Sold,'' the bluesy ``Man O' War'', a funk jam based on Sheryl Crow's ``Everyday Is a Winding Road'' and the hidden track ``Prettyman,'' featuring Maceo Parker on riotous saxophone. By the way, much-trumpeted cameos from Gwen Stefani, Chuck D, Ani DiFranco and Crow are almost entirely unnoticeable. Three stars

- F.S.

Sammy Davis Jr./``Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story'' (Rhino)

A four-disc box covering every phase of Sammy's career might seem a bit excessive to most and, indeed, for most listeners it probably is. However, true believers and Rat Pack aficionados will love this expertly assembled retrospective of the great showman's career. The collection spans from the late '40s through the 1970s, primarily emphasizing the 1950s and '60s when Davis was at the height of his recording and performing career. Much of the ballad-heavy later material suffers from overproduction, but the early gems, along with an entire disc devoted to live material, makes this set a winner. Three and one half stars.

- G.W.

Various/``VH1 Divas Live/99'' (Arista)

Middle-of-the-road pop duets were the selling point at this second annual gathering of vocal talent. Recorded at the televised all-star event last April, ``VH1 Divas Live/99'' has its moments, including the gutsy Tina Turner/Elton John teaming on ``The Bitch Is Back,'' Cher's ``If I Could Turn Back Time'' and Whitney Houston's pairing with Mary J. Blige on Aretha Franklin's ``Ain't No Way.'' But diva-in-training LeAnn Rimes' ``How Do I Live'' is for fans only. Two and one halfs

- F.S.

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