POP MUSIC SPECIAL : The Record Industry’s Big Push

The fall season is always the most active time for pop record releases, as the music industry gears up for its November-December season, during which nearly a third of all records, tapes and CDs are sold. But that can mean confusion for even the most serious music fans, as old favorites compete with newcomers for consumers’ attention.

These are the albums expected to generate the most critical and commercial interest of all the post-Labor Day releases during the hectic year-end rush. The selections, presented in alphabetical order, cover all parts of the pop music spectrum, from heavy-metal fathers (Aerosmith) and sons (L.A. Guns) to rap innovators (the D.O.C., Young M.C.); from rock kings on the rebound (Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones) and pop queens living the lush life (Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand) to country chartbusters (Randy Travis) and folkie mavericks (Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked).

The comments are by the Times pop writers indicated, but the star ratings (one is poor, five a classic) sometimes reflect additional pop staff input.

The reviewers are Robert Hilburn, Dennis Hunt, Mike Boehm, Richard Cromelin, Jonathan Gold, Steve Hochman, Connie Johnson, Craig Lee, Kristine McKenna, Randy Lewis, Don Snowden, Chris Willman, Paul Grein, Duff Marlowe and Don Waller.

** BELINDA CARLISLE, “Runaway Horses,”MCA. Carlisle suffers from Stevie Nicks-itis--a malady whose major symptom is a bleating vibrato. Her grating vocals detract from the sleek pop craftsmanship of several songs. This album features some effective radio-ready cuts, but serious songs are not Carlisle’s strength, proven on the pretentious “Michelangelo.” Stick to pop fluff, Belinda. (Hunt)

*** TAYLOR DAYNE, “Can’t Fight Fate,”Arista. With this high-quality follow-up, the queen of the female white-soul singers proves that her hit debut album was no fluke. With ballad singles, Dayne has successfully shed the dance-music diva image that haunted her when the first album came out. The pop-soul ballads are the strength of this album, which is blessed with better material than her first one. (Hunt)

*** JANET JACKSON, “Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814,”A&M.; Her goal apparently is to be another Madonna, the kind of dance-music queen who can also sing ballads and pop tunes. The album runs the gamut from social commentary to lusty, sensual tunes, from dance music to songs laced with jazz and Brazilian textures. (Hunt)

** KISS, “Hot in the Shade,” PolyGram. Strong lyrics plus muscular metal music tracks usually equal first-rate albums. But not this time, as wimpy vocals sabotage nearly every song. The exception is “Forever,” one of the year’s best hard-rock ballads. (Hunt)

*** MAX Q, “Max Q,”Atlantic. INXS singer Michael Hutchence’s one-off collaboration with members of the Australian underground is quirky, sociopolitical, cerebral rock that seems to be going in several directions at once, not the kind of funky, danceable, straight-ahead rock INXS is noted for. If it weren’t for Hutchence’s identifable vocal style, you’d never associate Max Q with INXS. (Hunt)

*** 1/2 LIZA MINNELLI, “Results,”Epic. Minnelli has become a Pet Shop Girl--with often dazzling results. Produced and mostly written by the Pet Shop Boys, this album features dark, moody ballads and dark, moody dance tunes. The Boys’ trademark etheral production liberates Minnelli, who reveals an impressive contemporary-pop dimension. One of the year’s most intriguing albums. (Hunt)

** ZAPP, “Zapp V,”Reprise. Zapp, headed by Roger Troutman, plays funk with too many frills. Too often it sidesteps the slammin’ basics. This collection runs the gamut between silliness and sober social commentary. The fanciful version of the Ohio Players’ “Fire” is a fizzle. (Hunt)

Coming Up:

Other albums scheduled for release in the coming weeks include:

ABC, Art of Noise, Basia, Bobby Brown (dance mixes), Club Nouveau, Phil Collins, Erasure, Gipsy Kings, Ofra Haza, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Joan Jett, Quincy Jones, Kid Creole, Kris Kristofferson, Yngwie Malsteem, Roches, Shinehead, Keith Sweat, Tiffany, the Time, Jody Watley (dance mixes), Whitesnake and Peter Wolf.