SOUND CHECK.

Electric Light Orchestra/``Flashback: Electric Light Orchestra'' (Columbia/Legacy)

ELO's music still sounds a little silly, which was sometimes the point. But too often, the band's singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Jeff Lynne took himself and his pop operas a little too seriously, resulting in music that redefines the meaning of bombast.

If you own the greatest hits (and some of them, like ``Evil Woman,'' were pretty great), you probably don't need this three-disc box. True believers, however, will find gold in the remastered songs, alternate takes and unreleased material. Two and one half stars

- Glenn Whipp

Shemekia Copeland/``Wicked'' (Alligator)

On her second album of soulful rockin' blues, the power-voiced, 21-year-old daughter of late Texas guitar-slinger Johnny Copeland solidifies her Aretha-in-waiting status with an astute collection of longing laments, done-me-wrong wails and lusty come-ons.

Backed by a versatile, fire alarm-ringing band (led by ``Late Night With Conan O'Brien'' guitarist Jimmy Vivino) and supported with appearances by the Uptown Horns and Ruth Brown, Copeland showcases a great deal of passion, of course, but also remarkable subtlety and humor for someone with a vocal instrument so evidently made for shouting.

The wonderful variety of songs, most of which John Hahn had a hand in composing, run the gamut from country blues to torch to gospel to urban tragedy ... and young Copeland proves expert at interpreting them all. Four stars

- Bob Strauss

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

If you're going to drop $100 on a box set, you might as well buy one that starts conversations. This set, with its wraparound 3-D images of a floating brain will do just that. But will anybody want to listen to the music? There are five discs of sci-fi movie and television themes, novelty hits and lounge music, all of which will sound heavenly to anyone who thinks William Shatner's ``Transformed Man'' (not included here) is a work of kitsch genius. Everyone else can simply groove to the floating brain. Three stars

- G.W.

Eleni Mandell/``Thrill'' (Space Baby)

Purring and growling her way through romantic combat and sweet, aching defeat, L.A. chanteuse Mandell puts on a sophisticated lounge act at the Bruised Libido Bar. Jazzy here, psycho-'60s there, her wonderful wordplay and peppy arrangements evoke a Kurt Weill-gone-cha cha emotional noirishness; Mandell locates the, well, thrill in devastation and misbehaving, and ends it all on the right, Tom Waits morning-after note. She sings interestingly about architecture, too. Four stars

- B.S.

Sharon Graeff with Lost Highway/``Mom's Old Picture Book'' (Heritage Records)

Missouri bluegrass traditionalist Graeff has spent the last quarter century teaching elementary school and raising twin sons. But if she sounds completely at home on this collection of classic mountain music, it comes naturally; as one of 10 children, she sang and played in the Elifrits Family Band all around the Ozarks.

This album teams her with the California pickin' pros Lost Highway, and what it may lack in string-smoking virtuosity it more than makes up for in heartfelt, old-timey authenticity. The concerns here are simple - lots of songs about parents, old guitars and graves - but Graeff's unfussy alto treats them with all the sincerity and respect that the feelings they conjure deserve. Three stars

- B.S.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) ELO frontman Jeff Lynne plays in the band's heyday, left, and today.

(3 -- 5) no caption (CD covers)