HOT TRACKS LISA ROBINSON

SI NON OSCILLAS NOLI TINTINNARE.

["If you don't swing, don't ring!'] —Sign outside the Playboy Mansion.

Good news for those fed up with neo-soul stars who sing in the key of and meander hopelessly around the scale in vain search of a melody: Macy Gray's knockout The Trouble with Being Myself has surefire smash ballads and funkified fun. And the timeless Isley Brothers (featuring Ronald Isley) get on the good foot with songs on Body Kiss.

Come Fly with Me: O.K., so she's not subtle, but Courtney Love's raucous yelling is a welcome relief on her new punky, rock 'n' roll CD. Recently known more for his substance abuse than his natural talents, Evan Dando has finally—with the help of Jon Brion and other pals—made the intimate and ironic Baby I'm Bored. On her forthcoming album. Jewel takes a left turn with new beats and tougher lyrics. The Eels'Shootenanny! rocks. The White Stripes'Elephant was recorded in two weeks, with pre-1963 equipment, and possesses all of their now trademark, pure, infectious, joyful noise. For fans of hard rock: the Rick Rubin-produced, Soundgarden-ish debut from Manmade God, and Verbena'sLa Musica Negra.

Just in Time:Liz Phair's long-awaited new one is provocative, sexual, and strong. Former Lone Justice singer Maria McKee's lovely voice is back after a seven-year absence on High Dive. You'll be hearing Annie Lennox's crystal-clear voice everywhere soon with Bare, her first studio album in eight years. And after a 10-year hiatus from solo recording, Patti (E Street Band) Scialfa releases the much-anticipated follow-up to her terrific 1993 debut.

In the Wee Small Hours:Pete Yorn balances his sensitive singer-songwriter side with his macho, Springsteen-ish rocker side on the really good Day I Forgot.Leona Naess has fiance Ryan Adams and a gorgeous, new, eponymous CD. Surfer sensation Jack Johnson'sOn and On is chock-full of Stoner rock and reggae. From the arty, serious, British music scene comes the Velvet Underground-influenced, two-CD set of rare, early tracks The Complete Works Volume I from Spiritualized. Gotta Right to Sing the Blues:Etta James says it right at the beginning of her tough Let's Roll: the blues is her business, she's open for business, and business is good. Kudos to ZZ Top, who on Mescalero have changed not one thing about their ragged, husky boogie style.

Mavis Staples brings her magnificence to the spiritual In Times Like These. Blues rocker Chris Whitley, hailed as the "next big thing" in the late 1980s, has never stopped recording good, authentic work; that tradition continues on Hotel Vast Horizon.John Hiatt & the Goners' new one is the rousing Beneath This Gruff Exterior.

Coming Soon: The soundtrack to Rob Zombie's horror movie, House of 1000 Corpses, has cuts from the Ramones, Buck Owens, and Slim Whitman, as well as a tour de force collaboration from Zombie and Lionel Richie on "Brick House." Former Whiskeytown singer Caitlin Cary's latest solo work is I'm Staying Out. Blur's Think Tank is funkier and less pretentious than previous efforts. On Escapology,Robbie Williams does those big, old-fashioned, catchy, British production numbers that attempt to justify his rumored huge cash-money advance. Prince Paul'sPolitics of the Business is hip-hop with humor. On Other Ways of Speaking,Russell Crowe & 30 Odd Foot of Grunts are melodic, sincere, and romantic. Also out: Mars Volta, Jay-Jay Johansen, Yo La Tengo, Trey Anastasio, John Eddie, Soozie Tyrell, North Mississippi Allstars, re-releases from Dinah Washington, Chet Baker, Erroll Garner, and Count Basie'sChairman of the Board. Ring-a-ding-ding: no one understands a life like Frank's.