In Brief

* * * Extreme, “III Sides to Every Story,” A&M.; On this ambitious and accomplished third album, the Boston quartet officially reaches the top ranks of mainstream hard-pop. Marked by lush and varied Van Halen-meets-the-Beatles sounds and intelligently crafted lyrics considering matters geo-political, romantic and spiritual with equal aplomb, “III Sides” is full of delightful surprises, even though an orchestral finale gets a bit unwieldy. This is metal that even an XTC fan could love.