The B-52's are still having fun after all these years

"Nude on the Moon" (Rhino, $31.98) -- B-52's

The music on the B-52's "Nude on the Moon" is just as bright as its neon-orange packaging -- fun and funny still, 25 years after the band began.

In the beginning, the quintet from Athens, Ga., sounded like a novelty act, with goofy lyrics, campy vocals and minimalist arrangements built around cheesy organ riffs, and choppy, rudimentary guitar licks. That early music gave dance clubs an alternative to disco that -- unlike disco -- still sounds fresh today.

As the B-52's evolved, they found new ways to work a groove, recording their best albums in the mid- to late '80s.

All the party favorites are here -- "Rock Lobster," "Planet Claire," "Love Shack," "Roam" and 31 others on two discs. There's a live 1989 recording of "Whammy Kiss," a nifty remix by Moby of "Is That You Mo-Dean?" and plenty of other good stuff.

As one band lyric suggests: Space driver, give it a spin.

-- Steven Wine AP Writer

"Il Trovatore" (Sony, $31.97) -- Conducted by Riccardo Muti

The best-known notes on this exciting double-disc recording of "Il Trovatore," Giuseppe Verdi's middle-period masterpiece, are the ones you WON'T hear: the high C's that tenors traditionally interpolate at the end of Manrico's Act III aria, "Di quella pira."

Riccardo Muti, determined to adhere to an authentic edition of the score, insisted the young sensation Salvatore Licitra stick to the original ending. The result was some booing on opening night at Milan's La Scala (though that gave way to cheers in later performances, to judge from this recording).

Licitra is the main attraction of this performance because he is the latest newcomer to be touted as the long-sought successor to Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Based on his work here, the hype may be justified. His voice is both flexible and sturdy enough for the demanding role, and his bright, ringing sound has an urgency that is reminiscent of the young Pavarotti.

All the cast members give stylish and idiomatic performances under Muti's direction. Soprano Barbara Frittoli is an impressive Leonora, despite a slight tremor in her upper register; mezzo Violeta Urmana makes a strong Azucena; and Leo Nucci puts his weathered baritone to good use as the villainous Count di Luna.

-- Mike Silverman, AP Writer

"MTV2 Handpicked" (Columbia Records, $13.99) -- Various Artists

If you don't have MTV's sister channel, MTV2, on your cable system, you can hear a sampling of its alternative pop playlist on "MTV2 Handpicked," that channel's showcase series.

This collection includes the Scottish band Travis, with its banjo-tinged "Sing"; the balladry of London's Coldplay; and the British big-beat techno stylings of Lo Fidelity Allstars.

Two bright American singer-songwriters -- Ryan Adams with his Dylan-esque "New York, New York" and Pete Yorn's Nick Drake-ish "Life on a Chain" -- are also featured.

The rest is a mixed bag of Cake, Stereomud, lostprophets, Five for Fighting, The Crystal Method, Radiohead and Tenacious D, among others.

-- J.W. Lim,

AP Writer