SOUND CHECK.

Various/``Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection'' (Rhino)

Connoisseurs of space-age kitsch will get a major-league kick out of this generous five-CD metal box.

The collection, an ideal present for just about anyone in or out of this galaxy, spans five decades of out-of-this-world music, including theme songs from classic sci-fi flicks and TV shows, and sci-fi pop songs and lounge novelties, combining comedy, fantasy and nostalgia.

While entertainingly cartoonish, many of the 113 tracks can't help but reflect very real fears, fantasies and desires in the context of the cold war. Much of this stuff was produced by people who probably believed the earth was on the brink of apocalypse.

But even in the most recent material, namely numbers from the B-52's, Parliament and Mojo Nixon, there's the faint whiff of desire for a visit from the little green men.

As usual, Rhino's packaging, complete with terrific 200-page hardbound book, is a delight. And if you stare at the box long enough, you'll swear the 3D brain on the outside is throbbing.

Listen to all five CDs at once and yours will be, too. Four stars

- Fred Shuster

Eros Ramazzotti/``Stilelibero'' (BMG/U.S. Latin)

Italian superstar Ramazzotti has produced yet another great pop album for grown-ups. Released in both Italian and Spanish versions, ``Stilelibero'' - also ``Estilolibre'' meaning ``free-styling'' - basks in the rich expression of Ramazzotti's wiry vocals and passionate lyrics. Imagine a racier, more upbeat Phil Collins fluent in Italian.

``Fuoco Nel Fuoco'' (``Fire in the Fire'') is Ramazzotti's sexy lead single on the Italian version of the disc. The other version making its rounds on Spanish radio is titled ``Fuego en el Fuego.''

As for Ramazzotti's plans to release an album in English next year? He does include the bilingual ``Piu Che Puoi'' (''All You Can'') and a duet with Cher on ``Stilelibero.'' Never mind that his part is sung in Italian, Ramazzotti says he's still set to begin work on his debut English-language album soon.

Can't wait. Four stars

- Sandra Barrera

At the Drive-In/``Relationship of Command'' (Grand Royal)

This abrasive El Paso, Texas, quintet could've taken over the world had it found a real singer and spent more time crafting memorable songs. The high-powered media push can't obscure the bottom line: a sub-Rage Against the Machine front man shrieking over the guitar-heavy attack of Guns 'N Roses with few melodies to speak of.

But apart from the characterless, shrill vocals of Cedric Bixler, At the Drive-In plays well for all its limitations. The dynamic guitar work of its third album suggests these kids have one heck of a stage show.

Lyrically, the humorless Bixler and crew strive to be mysterious and serious. The phrase ``Relationship of Command'' was borrowed from Mao Tse Tung's ``Red Book'' (as a generation asks, ``Mao Tse who?'') and other pretentiously titled songs, such as ``Pattern Against User'' and ``Invalid Litter Dept.,'' were inspired by topics taken from ``Twilight Zone'' and the evening news.

Ultimately, all this stuff was done with so much more imagination by the Gang of Four on their peerless 1979 debut. Two stars

- F.S.

The Sprague Brothers/``Forever and a Day'' (HMG/HighTone)

This purported sibling act (guitarist Frank Sprague was supposedly born in Texas, drummer Chris in California, and they claim to have recently discovered a long lost Brent and Slim Sprague, but not in time to put them on their second album) derives much from earlier harmonizing brothers Everly, Wilson and Louvin.

But this disc's melodious, two-man '60s pop, pleasant and peppy as it often sounds, suffers from unimpressive, simplistic rhyming and thematic arrested development: most of the overly generous 18 tracks can be described as lonely, bitter and fixated. Anyone who's ever had unhealthy thoughts about Nancy Sinatra's boots, however, should get a warm feeling from this jangly collection. Two and one half stars

- Bob Strauss

David Sylvian/``Everything and Nothing'' (Virgin)

Sylvian is among the most underrated musicians around, probably because he started his career as a member of '80s art-rock band Japan, whose members all looked like fashion models posing behind their synths. But in his solo work, the British singer-composer has created fascinatingly ethereal avant-pop with help from the likes of Bill Frisell, Talvin Singh and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The very wonderful two-CD, 29-track ``Everything and Nothing'' (in stores Tuesday) is an ideal overview of Sylvian's career, including previously unheard work, atmospheric remixes and a few memorable tracks from such little-heard gems as the ``Dead Bees on a Cake'' and ``Rain Tree Crow'' discs.

The perfectly sequenced set even invites a re-evaluation of Japan - one of the band's ``lost'' tracks, ``Some Kind of Fool,'' is included here in a new mix with fresh vocals.

Sylvian deserves to be heard. Four stars

- F.S.

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