SOUND CHECK.

TOM PETTY: ``Highway Companion'' (American/WEA) - Three stars

Even though he hails from the wrong coast, Petty writes about Los Angeles' losers and dreamers as effectively as though he'd spent a lifetime being cut off on the 101 by Hummers driven by junior agents from William Morris. In his finely crafted new solo effort, he gets down to it again with ``This Old Town,'' a rumination that could've been kicked off Neil Young's ``Harvest'' for being too much of a downer. This town, Petty sings in a melancholy, beaten-down voice, ``ties your hands/It spikes your drink/I'd say more, but I can't think.'' It's one of a dozen haunting, sparingly fleshed-out songs that find Petty facing down mortality and wondering where all the years went. That tone is reflected elsewhere in ``Flirting With Time,'' a smog-choked last stand set in a place where ``shadow men talk a real good game.'' After a good helping of this man's Tommy Guide, you don't imagine Petty slapping an ``I (heart) Hollywood'' bumper sticker on the Chevy anytime soon. In stores Tuesday.

-- Fred Shuster

LETOYA: ``LeToya'' (Capitol) - Three stars

``There's been some things on my mind, and it's time that I let them go,'' declares LeToya in the breathy introduction to her self-titled debut. She's talking about love. So don't expect the Grammy-winning r&b singer and ``Say My Name'' co-songwriter to get snarky about how her former Destiny's Child mates cast her aside. She's forging her own destiny starting with the oh-so-soulful ``Torn,'' her chart-topping hit about a strained relationship that features a sample of the Stylistics' ``You Are Everything.'' Other highlights include the silky ``She Don't,'' the crunktastic ``Tear Da Club Up,'' featuring Jazze Pha and Bun B, and the bass-heavy ``I'm Good.'' Add her gorgeous voice and LeToya should have no trouble convincing fans to say her name, again.

-- Sandra Barrera

VARIOUS: ``Blues Around the World'' (Putumayo) - Three stars

The blues may have been born in the Deep South, but this 11-song compilation's offerings from Taiwan, Ireland, Brazil and India prove the genre's three-chords-and-the-truth approach knows no borders -- or language requirements. Standouts include ``La Flaca,'' a silky number about a hard-partying Cuban chick by Spain's Jarabe De Palo; ``Slide Blues,'' a slippery Delta tune reminiscent of John Lee Hooker's ``Crawlin' King Snake'' by Argentina's Botafogo; and ``I Got a Feeling,'' a jumpin' r&b workout by the late Chicago keyboard genius Otis Spann. In stores Tuesday.

-- Ryan Ritchie

FEIST: ``Open Season'' (Cherry Tree/Interscope) - Three stars

As a prelude to next year's new album, Canadian chill-out chanteuse Leslie Feist issues this stopgap set of previously unheard songs and remixes from her charming '04 disc ``Let It Die.'' Feist's languid delivery and simple yet effective melodies provide an ideal template for imaginative tweaking by the Postal Service, songwriting partner Gonzales and other mixologists who leave the singer's ethereal essence unmolested. The intriguing ``Open Season'' plays well straight through with ``Mushaboom'' -- a highlight of ``Let It Die'' -- given no less than four separate treatments, each diverse enough to retain interest. Also of note is the gorgeous ``Snow Lion,'' a tune that didn't make the previous album, and an engaging radio performance of ``Inside and Out.'' A delight.

-- F.S.

LINDA RONSTADT AND ANN SAVOY ``Adieu False Heart'' (Vanguard) - Three and one half stars

Calling themselves the Zozo Sisters, Ronstadt and Cajun music historian Savoy harmonize beautifully on a variety of traditional love and loss songs. A few are in French, some wonderfully combine bayou accordions with classical string quartets, and about half the album is the best ballad record Ronstadt has made since the '70s. It all climaxes with the most heartachingly gorgeous rendition of ``Walk Away Renee'' that you'll ever want to hear. In stores Tuesday.

-- Bob Strauss

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Tom Petty)

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