`Euphoria' -- Soundgarden's Chris Cornell Returns With A Fine Solo CD

In its 10-year recording history, Soundgarden made some of the heaviest, harshest music of the grunge era. But among the most memorable performances of its charismatic lead singer, Chris Cornell, were the slower numbers - grunge power ballads, if you will - like "Black Hole Sun," the band's biggest hit, and, from the "Temple of the Dog" side project, "Hunger Strike," a duet with Eddie Vedder.

On "Euphoria Morning" (A&M), his impressive solo debut, Cornell explores that mellower side of his musical personality much more thoroughly, showing he can use his powerful voice in a variety of ways.

At 35, he seems to have come to terms with the youthful frustration and rage expressed in many Soundgarden songs. He still expresses doubts, misgivings and depression on "Euphoria Morning," but in more thoughtful, hopeful tones.

"When I'm Down," for instance, has the feeling of an aching R&B ballad, complete with gospel influences. The lyric takes a positive twist at the end. "Wave Goodbye," his tribute to the late Jeff Buckley, is marked by passion and heartfelt emotion, with vocal inflections influenced by Buckley's. "Mission" has the brooding intensity of so many Soundgarden songs, but with a sense of purposefulness rather than frustration.

"Can't Change Me" seems to have been picked as the first single and video because it differs so starkly from the style of Soundgarden, which disbanded two years ago. Despite its defiant tone - "She's going to change the world/But she can't change me" - it has a pop feel, with Beatlesque influences.

"Preaching the End of the World" has a romantic, nostalgic feeling, with soaring vocal highs. "Flutter Girl" is among Cornell's finest, most passionate vocal performances, on a par with "Black Hole Sun."

"Euphoria Morning" is the start of what is almost sure to be a successful solo career for Cornell, who is on a six-city tour that does not include a Seattle date. But there will be one on a more extensive U.S. tour next year. Cornell's band is made up of the two musicians who produced, arranged and mixed the album with him - Alain Johannes (guitars) and Natasha Shneider (keyboards) - plus Ric Markmann (bass) and Greg Upchurch (drums).

OTHER NEW RELEASES

`Mary' Mary J. Blige (MCA)

On her fourth album, Mary J. Blige reaches a new level of sophistication and achievement, as a singer and a songwriter (she co-wrote most of the album). Jazz, blues and R&B traditions influence "Mary," and she's joined by a stellar list of guest artists, including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill and K-Ci Hailey (of K-Ci and JoJo).

The album opens with the jazzy, hip-hoppy, easy-swinging "All That I Can Say," featuring one of Blige's warmest vocals, and fine backup from Lauryn Hill, who wrote, produced and arranged the track.

The sassy, empowering "Your Child" is one of the disc's outstanding cuts, a moving ballad about an unfaithful, dishonest lover. It boasts not only a beautiful lead vocal but also fine background harmonies, all by Blige.

It takes courage to share a vocal with one of the greatest singers of all time, Aretha Franklin, but Blige holds her own in the intense "Don't Waste Your Time," displaying the kind of assurance and maturity that is the hallmark of "Mary." Her duet with Hailey is classic, downhome R&B, with hip-hop overtones.

The most entertaining guest appearance is by Elton John, who re-creates the signature piano accents of "Bennie & the Jets" on "Deep Inside," a highly personal song from Blige, dealing with the pressures of stardom. Clapton's guitar is, unfortunately, buried in the lush production of the romantic Diane Warren ballad, "Give Me You."

"I'm In Love" has a poppy, horn-driven '70s sound. And the album ends with an uplifting, disco-era dance-inducer, "Let No Man Put Asunder."

`It's Harder Now' Wilson Pickett (Bullseye)

Whatever happened to Wilson Pickett? After scoring all those great R&B hits in the 1960s and '70s ("In the Midnight Hour," "Funky Broadway," "Mustang Sally"), he seemed to disappear.

But now he's back, with his first new studio recording in 12 years, and - Huh! Good gawd, y'all! - sounding as great as ever. At 58, he's still the bad boy of soul, with songs celebrating sex and toughness, like the nasty "Taxi Love" and "What's Under That Dress?" and the brutal "Stomp." He gives everything he does his own stamp, with that gruff, sandpaper voice of his.

The album opens with "Outskirts of Town," an impressive blues song he co-wrote. It recycles some blues cliches, but overall is snappily written. The title track is also a well-crafted song that's just right for Pickett's style. Not surprisingly, there's a cut called "Soul Survivor" on this comeback disc, a well-written tribute to singers now gone (Otis Redding, Joe Tex) or still singing (Bobby Womack, Pickett himself).

Some of the songs are routine, but all of them are graced by one of the great voices in soul music.

`a gogo: Live on Tour' Patty Larkin (Vanguard)

Anyone lucky enough to have experienced Patty Larkin in concert knows what a thoroughly entertaining performer she is, thanks to her fine songwriting, superlative singing and expert guitar picking. Her first recording for Vanguard (she released three albums on Rounder and four on Windham Hill), captures the spirit of her live show and offers new insights into 14 of her best songs.

Larkin has a light, airy style, but there are deeper elements lurking in her lyrics, especially in such highly personal songs as "Dear Diary" and "The Book I'm Not Reading," dealing with the ups and downs of relationships. There's also drama in songs such as "Mary Magdalene." But there's almost always a positive spin in her songs, as expressed most delightfully in "Don't" and "Good Thing."

This is an essential disc for Larkin lovers, and the perfect introduction to those just discovering her.

`Tip of the Freberg' Stan Freberg (Rhino box set)

You have to be of a certain age to know the work of Stan Freberg, who recorded song parodies in the 1950s that were so good they made the hit parade, and who also created some of the funniest commercials in the history of television.

In this four-CD box set, Rhino has collected all of his hilarious parody singles - including "The Yellow Rose of Texas," "Banana Boat (Day-O)" and the "Dragnet" takeoffs - as well as highlights of his CBS, NPR and BBC radio shows, his groundbreaking radio spots, some new satirical pieces and even a video of his best TV commercials. The package also includes a booklet with a historical overview by Freberg, and an appreciation by Barry Hansen, aka Dr. Demento.