SOUND CHECK.

GREG OSBY ``Inner Circle'' (Blue Note) - Three stars

Saxophonist Osby was part of Blue Note's New Directions sextet, a group (including pianist Jason Moran and vibraphonist Stefon Harris) that received plenty of critical acclaim, but little in the way of sales. This album, which features Moran and Harris, was recorded three years ago, but shelved because Osby felt it was too adventuresome for his audiences to handle. What's interesting is that ``Inner Circle'' rates as Osby's most rewarding effort to date as a leader, full of protracted harmonic adventures, strategic pauses and almost impenetrable structures. Osby calls it a ``player's record,'' and indeed this album isn't for any lovers of melody. Yet, repeated listenings prove it to be a work of burnished beauty.

- Glenn Whipp

CLINIC ``Walking With Thee'' (Domino) - Four stars

``Walking With Thee'' is the second album to come from the Liverpudlian art-rock foursome Clinic. And it's every bit an update of '60s garage rock, as is the music of the Strokes, the White Stripes and the Vines. All are hooky, but here we're talking about Clinic - the Thom Yorke endorsed band plucked fresh off the indie scene. Clinic goes wild with fuzzy guitars, pared-down lyrics, organs and other instruments such as clarinets to produce the kind of album you'll want to keep somewhere between the Pixies and Radiohead. Standouts include ``Harmony,'' ``Walking With Thee'' and ``For the Wars.''

-Sandra Barrera

KELLY WILLIS ``Easy'' (Rykodisc) - Three stars

Country crooner Willis says her new album's title refers to the smooth tempo of most of its cuts. It certainly doesn't reflect the emotional angst that drips from every one of them. Willis writes and chooses material that enhances her clutched vocal signature, the voice of a woman who really wishes she were stronger. Backup singers and pickers include Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, Nickel Creek's Chris Thile and Kelly's husband, Bruce Robison.

- Bob Strauss

VARIOUS ARTISTS: ``Lizzie McGuire'' soundtrack (Walt Disney) - Two stars

``Lizzie McGuire,'' the Disney series which spawned this disc, tries for a certain smart-aleck, know-it-all cool guaranteed to make anyone over 22 glare at the nearest youngster. Fortunately (or not) this soundtrack has no such ambition. After all, an entry from artist Dana Dawson is titled ``Have a Nice Life.'' Give this record a hug. Tracks for the grown-ups who will buy it include the Jackson 5's confectionary classic ``ABC,'' the always-twee Jessica Simpson doing ``Irresistible'' and Smashmouth taking a break from licensing ``Walking on the Sun'' for Chevrolet commercials to cover ``Why Can't We Be Friends.'' Series star Hillary Duff makes her debut on the disc's kick-off, ``I Can't Wait.''

-- Theo Douglas

PSEUDOPOD: ``Pseudopod'' (Interscope) - Two and one half stars

The music industry can be like a chi chi private school: Seventy percent get in through ``connections,'' the rest are put on scholarship. Pseudopod is the scholarship kid. Its four members met at UCLA, started playing gigs wherever they could get them and eventually won ``The Best College Band In America'' contest, which led to their deal with Interscope. These kids have ambition -- mixing funk, ska, pleasant pop and jam-band rock 'n' roll -- and musical chops (they were music majors), but still sound a bit too much like their influences (Fishbone, Dave Matthews Band, matchbox twenty) to stand out in an industry that quickly hazes its new recruits. But I won't be the bully here. With a little studying and self exploration, Pseudopod may graduate with honors.

-- Heather Wood

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