Pop Music : The $50 Guide : Something Old and New, and Yes, Something Blue

The music of Macy Gray, a newcomer with a classic soul sound, and Gram Parsons, a landmark country-rock figure whose tunes have been redone by some of today’s classic artists, highlight this guide to keeping up with what’s noteworthy in pop on a CD budget of $50 a month.

July

Macy Gray, “On How Life Is,” Epic. If you want ‘90s comparisons, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu are helpful reference points, because this L.A.-based singer-songwriter with a distinctive, squeaky-high voice exudes a strong sense of style and theatrical presence. But Gray’s blend of raw intensity and craft touches on a tradition that is equally rooted in Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday. This debut has the feel of a lost soul treasure--but one seasoned with aggressive sexual attitudes tailored to these thoroughly modern times.

Various artists, “Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons,” ALMO Sounds. Almost everywhere you turn on this album, you’ll find inspired vocal work, including such marvelous pairings as Chrissie Hynde and Emmylou Harris on “She” and Beck and Harris on “Sin City,” as well as solo turns by Elvis Costello, Gillian Welch and others. The artists capture splendidly the heartfelt struggle and longing that made Parsons’ country-rock as soulful as anything ever associated with either musical field.

Various artists, “Run Lola Run” soundtrack, TVT Soundtrax. Franka Potente, who stars in the taut German film, handles the vocals on a couple of pop-minded, Kraftwerk-meets-Eurythmics exercises, but the synthesizer-driven instrumentals in this soundtrack are so kinetic they make you feel as if you should start racing down the street just as Potente does in the film.

August

Meshell Ndegeocello, “Grace,” Maverick. This restless songwriter-musician sets aside the potent R&B; and funk elements of her first two acclaimed albums to take us even more deeply into her world with softer and more intimate arrangements, as she sings about the ups and (mostly) downs of relationships.

David Olney, “Through a Glass Darkly,” Philo. Rather than deal in the confessional style favored by most folk and country-minded writers, this Nashville-based veteran (whose tender “1917” is one of the highlights of the new Emmylou Harris-Linda Ronstadt duet collection) specializes here in character studies that reflect some of the detail and warmth of John Prine and Townes Van Zandt.

Rahzel, “Make the Music 2000,” MCA. Stepping from the Roots for a solo effort, the human beatbox, who is capable of providing all the “instrumental” foundation for a track with just his voice, mixes hip-hop and R&B; elements in an album that is fresher and more accomplished than almost anything else you can find in the hip-hop world this season. His guests include Badu, Ndegeocello and Slick Rick.