IN BRIEF : *** Green On Red, “This Time Around,” China/Polydor.<i> Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic). : </i>

This time around the veteran L.A. subterranean rock band--now just founder/singer Dan Stuart and guitarist Chuck Prophet plus various sidemen--has come up with its leanest, meanest album yet. Dylanstones in the desert on the hottest day of the year, with some surprising country tenderness to provide a little shade.