TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor : COMPACT DISCS

“The Best of Blondie.” Chrysalis. (Original recording: analog. No digital remix.) This spirited New York rock quintet, led by vocalist Debbie Harry, made great sounding records in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s--records distinguished by crackling pop-rock textures and (often) a seductive Spectorian backdrop or techno-rock tension. So, you’d think these 12 well-chosen selections (“In the Flesh” to “Call Me”) would sound spectacular in CD. Yet many of the tracks are thin or unusually muted. It’s a passable package if you are interested in building a large pop-rock library in CD, but far from optimum. 1/2