SOUND CHECK.

AVRIL LAVIGNE: ``Under My Skin'' (Arista) - Three and one half stars

If girls look up to any pop idol these days, let it be Avril Lavigne. The 19-year-old Canadian sensation whose debut album ``Let Go'' has already sold more than 14 million copies doesn't just rock; she represents a defiant voice for young women everywhere. ``So get out of my head, get off of my bed, yeah that's what I said'' she snarls over loud, crunching guitars at the unwanted sexual advances of a boy in the rocker ``Don't Tell Me.'' Of course, Lavigne, despite her levelheadedness, does allow vulnerability to seep through - ``Take Me Away,'' ``Fall to Pieces,'' ``Slipped Away.'' Whether she's moving on as in ``Forgotten'' or reflecting on a failed relationship as in ``My Happy Ending,'' Lavigne gives the impression that despite love's many ups and downs she's determined to stand her ground. In stores Tuesday.

- Sandra Barrera

VARIOUS: ``The Contemporary Records Story'' (Contemporary/Fantasy) - Three and one half stars

Another title for this four-disc box devoted to one of the great indie jazz labels of the '50s and '60s could be ``The Lester Koenig Story,'' for the visionary producer who insisted his records achieve the highest sonic standards. Preferring tight arrangements to freewheeling blowing sessions, Koenig also pioneered West Coast jazz, and lively examples of the cool school abound here. Sizzlers on this fine set covering 1952 to 1977 come from Shelly Manne (ideally prompting a reappraisal of the prolific drummer and leader's '50s output), and small ensembles led by Hampton Hawes, Buddy Collette and guitarist Barney Kessel, who died a few weeks ago. Most jazz streams are well-represented - bop (Sonny Rollins, Curtis Counce, Art Pepper), soul-jazz (Teddy Edwards), postmodern (Chico Freeman, Woody Shaw), avant-garde (Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor) - and dynamically captured. Elsewhere, classical-jazz keyboardist Andre Previn interprets show tunes and Helen Humes sings. It's art Koenig helped create. In stores Tuesday.

- Fred Shuster

ED BURLESON ``The Cold Hard Truth'' (Palo Duro Records) - Three stars

Burleson is the genuine hard stuff. A former rodeo cowboy, the Texan singer-songwriter serves up uncut honky tonk reverie about the untamed life, along with regretful wallows in jealousy and bad choices made. With tips of the Stetson to Hank and Buck, flourishes of Cajun fiddle here and pumped-up pedal steel there, Burleson's songs hark back to a pre-homogenized era when country music could actually sound dangerous, but still awful sweet.

- Bob Strauss

MORRISSEY: ``You Are the Quarry'' (Attack/Sanctuary) - Three stars

``America, your head's too big, because America, you're belly's too big.'' So goes the opening salvo of the song ``America is Not the World,'' the kick-off to the ex-Smiths' singer Morrissey's first solo release in seven years. The album's dozen songs are chiming, guitar-driven melodies rife with varying degrees of angst, from the romantic to the political - ``Come Back to Camden,'' ``Irish Blood, English Heart.'' And even religion is taken to task (``I Have Forgiven Jesus'') in this new set that can be summarized in two words: Classic Morrissey.

- Sandra Barrera

Fats Waller: ``The Centennial Collection'' (Bluebird) - Three and one half stars

Fats Waller would have been celebrating his 100th birthday today, and if you've never had the pleasure of his acquaintance, this is as good a place as any to start. There has never been any shortage of CDs compiling the great Depression-era showman and stride pianist, and no single-disc set can claim to be definitive. What makes this collection special is the great bonus DVD that shows the smiling Fats swinging through some of his best tunes. Yes, Waller's performance style sometimes seems dated and too eager-to-please (those were the times), but his scruffy singing and buoyant piano playing remain timeless, likely to last well past future bicentennial celebrations.

- Glenn Whipp

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(1) no caption (AVRIL LAVIGNE)

Lester Cohen/WireImage.com

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