SOUND CHECK.

JOSH GROBAN: ``Awake'' (Reprise) - Three stars

Aficionados of classical-pop singer Groban's mellifluous voice will be impressed with his third album's skillfully made, richly varied set of new songs. Showing growth as a producer and composer, Groban makes each of the 13 tracks here special, topped by the inspirational, chart-destined anthem ``You Are Loved (Don't Give Up).''

Deeper examination of ``Awake'' brings deeper rewards. The gorgeous ``Un Dia Llegara,'' opening with a sweep of guitar, sets the mood for romantic highlights to come, including a beautifully orchestrated ``Un Giorno Per Noi'' (Nino Rota's timeless love theme from ``Romeo and Juliet''). As a soundtrack to seduction, Groban has hit on something.

The 25-year-old Groban also delights in an unexpected alliance with South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo for ``Lullaby,'' voiced a cappella and penned with Dave Matthews. A second Ladysmith collaboration, ``Weeping,'' is a full-band affair that wouldn't sound too out of place on ``Graceland.''

The album is capped nicely by the high-energy ``Machine,'' in which Groban, joined by Herbie Hancock, reveals yet another side.

Bring on the concert tour.

-- Fred Shuster

STANTON MOORE: ``III'' (Telarc) - Three and one half stars

The group New Orleans drummer Moore assembles here swings so hard that stuff's going to break. Recording in the Big Easy's Preservation Hall, the ghosts of Big Easy rhythm past and present meet a jam-heavy vibe that dips into everything from the Meters to the Allmans, from Led Zep to classic Blue Note. Credit Hammond B3 organist Robert Waller and guitarist Will Bernard with digging a deep, greasy groove. From the funk of ``Poison Pushy'' to the gospel overtones of ``When the Levee Breaks,'' this music will move you. Catch Moore opening for Charlie Hunter on Dec. 8 at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood.

-- Steven Rosenberg

ROSE'S PAWN SHOP: ``The Arsonist'' (self-released) - Three and one half stars

The Western regional winners of the Disc Makers' Independent Music World Series contest, this young Pasadena-based outfit sounds like a latter-day Byrds. But there's as much West Virginia as there is L.A. in their hard-driving, eclectic and tightly arranged country rock -- even when the psychedelic, Celtic and Indian raga elements come to the fore. Inventive songwriting also makes this collection of drinking, stumbling-through-life and, yes, fire-starting tunes prize-worthy in every way.

-- Bob Strauss

TONY JOE WHITE: ``Swamp Music: The Complete Monument Recordings'' (Rhino Handmade) - Three and one half stars

Rhino's specialty label does the man with the gutter growl proud on this four-disc set, appropriately housed in a box sporting a beautiful mossy-green bayou pictorial. Included are White's three albums for Monument, authentic Louisiana blues and soul, recorded at the same time Credence's John Fogerty was singing about being ``born on the bayou,'' even though he actually hailed from Berkeley.

Each disc is supplemented with singles and unreleased tracks. A fourth disc features an unreleased 1969 Paris solo session along with White's performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. Full of grooves, grunting and great guitar work, ``Polk Salad Annie,'' ``Rainy Night in Georgia'' and even a cover of ``The Look of Love,'' this limited-edition set is not to be missed.

-- Glenn Whipp

MOZELLA: ``I Will'' (Maverick) - Three stars

If jazzy, soulful pop is your thing then put this disc in your player and press play. What you'll hear is the tough-as-Nelly-Furtado, smooth-as-Norah-Jones vocalist MoZella, whose claim to fame was having her song, ``Amazed,'' used on a Mercedes-Benz spot and featured on ``The OC.'' But all that was before she dropped her major-label debut with hooky standouts like ``Love Is Something,'' ``Amnesia'' and ``Last $20.'' With her jazzy 'tude, the Detroit chanteuse turns out a breezy ``What to Say'' over bossa nova rhythms, raps about ``Killing Time'' and pours her soul into ``You Wanted It.'' And you will, too.

-- Sandra Barrera

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Josh Groban)

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