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The latest waves of metal have seemed pretty much independent of mood. It's no longer Black Sabbath for the downcast proto-Goths while Deep Purple puts a crunching fever onto standard blues patterns. Anyone who's heard the MTV Return of the Rock albums, which get some promotion as being the latest in beach party music, might not see any difference between the likes of (Hed) P.E.'s "Swan Dive" and this soundtrack compilation. But the surprises delivered by several of the 15 bands here make this a worthwhile survey of metal talent. The first surprise is that Marilyn Manson's contribution barely registers, while its follow-ups in the program are hooky bits by Linkin Park and Static-X - plus the best track of all, from Pantera, "Avoid The Light". The most veteran outfit on the album shows more than a little melodic sense and a lot of restraint. This track keeps threatening to break out into something loud, but then it turns itself inside out, as if it's found the more insidious keys by which to seep inside a vulnerable listener. That's a lesson to be learned here: the tracks that fail all sound like overage teens who whine and find their only solace in turning up the guitar amperage. All except System of A Down, that is. These guys once again earn an award for misfired ambition in a metal recording (not yet a Grammy category, but stay tuned). Their remake of Berlin's "Metro" guts the song of its original creepiness - one that didn't depend on power chords, but which certainly could've been part of a Dracula-themed album in its own time. - T.E. Lyons
 Beth WoodLate Night Radio Mehaffey Beth Wood's third release, late night radio, draws comparison to Tori Amos or Jewel in that she opts for real singing and playing over the technological tweak prevalent in much of today's music. Not as emotional as the latter, or as striking and arresting as the previous, Wood has a sound of her own. Coupling her guitar and voice with only the minimum accompaniment, Wood allows her voice to take top billing, not flashy or over the top. Not only does she get back to basics with her sound, Wood wrote of all but one of the CD's songs and as both writer and performer, Wood gives the CD a refreshing sound, singing with an emotion only a song's writer can produce. Though out of Georgia, Wood's songs sound more like mellow L.A. groove than southern swank, giving a new face to the southern female musical image. Peppered with intriguing titles such as "My Miles Davis Kind of Blue", "Grenadine" and "Rusty Nail", Wood draws prospective listeners in, peaking their curiosity. Listeners will find however, that the content of Wood's album is not all that different than most artists - love, betrayal, hope and the rest headline this effort. That lack of originality however, is saved by the clever lyrics she cooks up, most notably in "Ghost of a Man" and "Hero's Almanac". One can put Wood's CD in the player and sit back and relax; her old time sound and relaxing, original voice make for a worthy listen. -Christina Dwiggins
Marked with crisp lyrics, smooth guitar, and drum rhythms, Paloalto delivers a dose of classic alt rock right to your CD player. The self-titled album, Paloalto contains a 12 pack of songs with a wide depth of range. Blending grit and alternative rock, the band has its own type of mellow harmonious sound, bringing a revived glow back to the land of alternative beats. "Throw the Brick" is a song truly unique to the album. Its lyrics and tempo bring back the glory days of alternative rock and capture a new generation of listeners. With a clear guitar intro and strong drum beats, the group revisits a classic sound first displayed by such groups as U2 and Radiohead. "Swim" is an upbeat ballad about selling beliefs and personal freedoms. The hard guitar riffs and lyrics by frontman James Grundler make for a roller coaster ride of music going from its hard beats to calming vocals. Paloalto's efforts as a band have made this album a "salt of the earth" work of alternative rock art. Though the band has only been together for a little over a year, their sound reflects musical talent and evokes a head-bobbing, knee-tapping flow that keeps the ear wanting more. - Jason Headrick
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Various Artists 
Paloalto