Henley, Prince Among $25 Guide’s Best for the Buck

Three debut albums from Britain plus the latest releases by pop-rock veterans as Don Henley and Prince highlight the latest edition of the $25 Guide, a way to keep up with the best in pop music on a budget of $25 a month (or approximately $40 a month for CD buyers).

June

Neneh Cherry’s “Raw Like Sushi” (Virgin)--This spirited 25-year-old singer-songwriter-rapper combines hip-hop and traditional pop in a debut album that defines the moment in youthful, dance-oriented pop better than anything else this year. There’s a sophistication and wit in the music itself and the message (directed at the post-Madonna teen female crowd) is a valuable one: Self respect is ultimately more important than peer group approval.

Don Henley’s “The End of the Innocence” (Geffen)--The third solo album from the former Eagle isn’t a bulls-eye, but there’s a consistent ambition and craft that continues to make Henley about as close to a guarantee of excellence as one finds in pop-rock. The evocative title tune may prove to be the single of the year and the intense “The Last Worthless Evening,” too, has the classic Eagles sheen.

Love and Rockets’ “Love and Rockets” (RCA)--This British trio might be great if it ever decided on a single musical direction. Just when it seemed to have made a remarkable step toward mid-period Beatles in last year’s “Earth, Sun, Moon,” the Rockets set a new course and ends up streaking toward both a sensual, roots-rock territory, populated with lots of feedback guitar, that is somewhere between the late T. Rex and the still active Jesus and Mary Chain.

July

Prince’s “Batman” (Warner Bros.)--There’s too much recycling of old funk ‘n’ fun ideas for this to be an essential Prince album, but the beat still moves along quite nicely, even exquisitely in places. “Trust” is an especially effective blend of Prince’s higher love and party-down instincts.

Soul II Soul’s “Keep on Movin”’ (Virgin)--Just when rappers De La Soul seemed to have the most eclectic hip-hop effort of the year, this British outfit--led by producer Jazzie B--matches and, in some respects, even surpasses De La Soul in a striking debut. It’s a virtual primer in contemporary black music, from touches of reggae and rap to large doses of house and African pop.

Texas’ “Southside” (Mercury)--This Scottish quartet could use more penetrating songs, but the basic sound--an alluring pairing of Sharleen Spiteri’s seductive vocals and Ally McErlaine’s lonesome bottleneck guitar--combines the soulful character of Ry Cooder and the bright pop-rock assurance of the Pretenders. Available for weeks in England (and selected import shops here), the U.S. edition of the album is due in stores Tuesday.