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NEW RELEASES HASTILY REVIEWED

MORNINGWOOD: Self-titled (EMI) -- "Frustrated" is rhymed with "waited," which naturally leads into a shrill plea to "take off your clothes!" Man, some kind of spooky chick here on a platter of flinty, shouty, new-wavey rock that comes off like a distaff Danko Jones. The less they try to tap into the campy disco side, the better. Now we're just waiting for a "cease and desist" letter to come for local cover band Mourning Wood. Sorry, guys. 3 out of 5

... IS A REAL BOY (2CD): Say Anything (Sony-BMG) -- A companion CD of rougher, older material accompanies this previously released blast of quirky, intelligent and often disturbing alternative rock that sounds like a punky Ben Folds on both LSD and Viagra. The sneering singer tries too hard sometimes, but pushes a lot of emotional buttons. Sample lyric: "What do old people teach us except how to die?" Ouch, man. 4 1/2 out of 5

9TH WARD PICKIN' PARLOR: Shawn Mullins (Vanguard Records) -- You remember the talkin' Lullaby dude? Huge hit in 1998. He's back - and he's excellent on a smooth-singing (no spoken word) collection of smart, rootsy goodness. Nice universal antiwar anthem: Lay Down Your Swords, Boys. 4 out of 5

MY FLAME BURNS BLUE (2CD): Elvis Costello (Universal) -- Desperate passion combines with a great big band-slash-orchestra for one of the best live albums of the year - and that includes Motley Crue. 4 out of 5


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