Jennifer Lopez's voice needs pulsing beat to prop it up

'J to Tha L-O! The Remixes' (Epic, $18.98) -- Jennifer Lopez

Some people can carry a tune. But when it's Jennifer Lopez, the tune has to carry her.

The entertainer soars or crashes depending on the track that's supporting her thin voice; that was made painfully clear on her sophomore album, "J. Lo," one of the worst discs of 2001.

However, when you frame Lopez's voice around some fierce beats or pulsating dance tracks, the combination is fun and formidable. Rapper Ja Rule proved that last year when he turned her weak dance song "I'm Real" into an irresistible hip-hop smash.

That No. 1 track is one of the highlights of her new disc, "J to Tha L-O! The Remixes," which mostly features old J-Lo tracks redone to a new beat. Ja Rule works his magic once again, transforming the so-so "Ain't It Funny" into a funky, sexy groove; "If You Had My Love," already a solid dance song, takes an alluring turn here; even ex-love Sean "P. Diddy" Combs appears on the Bad Boy remix of "Feelin' So Good."

The album is a dance party that doesn't disappoint -- until the last track. For some misguided reason, the CD ends with "Alive," a maudlin ballad co-written by Lopez and her new hubby, Cris Judd. Maybe that was supposed to be the "cool down" part of the album, but it just makes you want to turn it off.

-- Nekesa Mumbi Moody

AP Writer

'Visions of Love' (Sugar Hill, $16.98) -- Robin & Linda Williams

Robin and Linda Williams have been mainstays of "A Prairie Home Companion" since the early days of Garrison Keillor's radio show. They have toured with Keillor, both with "PHC" and as members of Keillor's Hopeful Gospel Quartet.

The radio host produced this collection of covers, ranging from traditional songs such as "Wash Me in Thy Precious Blood" to songs by Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen. The constant theme is love -- often, love gone, or going bad. Backed by Gary Raynor on bass and two other "PHC" regulars -- Richard Dworsky on piano and Peter Ostroushko on fiddle and mandolin -- the arrangements on "Visions of Love" are elegantly spare.

On an album of roots music, the inclusion of a 1992 Springsteen song -- "If I Should Fall Behind" -- might seem a little odd. But as the last track on the 13-song disc, and given the warmth of the Williams' treatment, it works well.

Another highlight: Linda Williams' performance of "Keep the Home Fires Burning," which is especially resonant in these times of war.

-- Rich Harris

AP Writer

"California Crossing" (Mammoth, $14.98) -- Fu Manchu

Fu Manchu revives '70s-styled hard rock with a Southern California edge as distinct as the subcultural snapshot initially developed by the Beach Boys. The Fu universe is a retro time capsule of custom vans, hot wheels and skateboards.

In the early '90s, Fu Manchu albums ("Daredevil," "In Search Of..." and "The Action Is Go") helped outline modern stoner rock, along with other seminal bands of the genre such as St. Vitus, Trouble, Monster Magnet, Kyuss and Sleep, among others.

Fu Manchu brings it all back home with its eighth album, "California Crossing." Rolling AC/DC riffage, Deep Purple choruses and a subliminal Devo undercurrent pervade. On the final song, "The Wasteoid," there's even a sincere drum solo.

Fu Manchu still bakes the heavy rock with reliable recipes for another day's fun in the warm California sun.

-- J.W. Lim

AP Writer

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"The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix" (Bluebird, $16.98) -- Gil Evans with The Gil Evans Orchestra

Miles Davis turned Jimi Hendrix on to jazz band arranger and pianist Gil Evans. Evans had worked with Davis on his albums "Birth of the Cool" and "Sketches of Spain." But when Hendrix died on Sept. 18, 1970, an Evans-Hendrix collaboration never got a chance to happen.

Evans honored the project with a 1974 album of fully jazzed-out interpretations of Hendrix tunes. "The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix" is now reissued with remixed sound and additional alternate takes.

The innate beauty of Hendrix's songwriting is captured by Evans' instrumental arrangements on cuts such as "Angel," "Gypsy Eyes" and "Little Wing." With vocals by "Hannibal" Marvin Peterson, "Crosstown Traffic" eventually veers into Funkadelic territory.

Avid rock fans, jazz fans, funk fans and Hendrix lovers can all feast on a plate of "The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix."

-- J.W. Lim

AP Writer