$50 GUIDE : Just the Right Medicine

The mere trickle of new January releases lets us reach back into 1992 for some albums--including Mary J. Blige and Medicine--that were passed over in earlier $50 guides. But stirring new releases by Elvis Costello and Dinosaur Jr. get the 1993 release schedule off to a brisk start.

January

Mary J. Blige’s “What’s 411?” (Uptown/MCA)--After a parade of female pop-R&B; singers with great voices but limited vision (starting with Whitney), Blige (as in o- blige ) is a revelation: a technically superior singer with the imagination and daring to be a major influence on the merging hip-hop/R&B; world.

Guy Clark’s “Boats to Build” (Asylum)--If you enjoyed the gentle reflection of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” this laid-back jewel by the respected Texas singer-songwriter should be equally satisfying. The strains are more deliberately country and folk than “Harvest Moon,” but the often winsome, character-rich tales are as warmly inviting--and there’s even more playfulness.

Medicine’s “Shot Forth Self-Living” (Def American)--The guitar assault at the beginning of this neo-industrial L.A. rock group’s debut is so grinding and grating that it sounds like there’s a loose wire in your sound system. But if you stick with Medicine, you’ll probably find the band is not such a shrill pill after all. Highly promising debut in the tradition of bands--including My Bloody Valentine--that mix melodic beauty against a relentless instrumental attack.

February

Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet’s “The Juliet Letters” (Warner Bros.)--In a welcome case of less is more, Costello calls a momentary halt to the torrent of images that defined his art in the ‘70s, but had begun to weigh it down by the end of the ‘80s. In this teaming with the British string quartet for a series of songs built around imaginary letters, Costello exhibits a new burst of creative energy. The album exudes the uncompromising artistry of Lou Reed’s “Magic & Loss.”

Dinosaur Jr.’s “Where You Been” (Sire)--J Mascis’ latest series of looks at missteps and misunderstandings in relationships is the best collection by an indie band (the trio retains its underground feel even if this is its second release on a major label) since “Nevermind.” Pray for a great video to jump-start “Where You Been” with the MTV crowd.

Singles: If you didn’t pick up Ice Cube’s “The Predator” album from the $50 Guide last November, invest at least in “It Was a Good Day,” a wistful fantasy about a peaceful day in the ‘hood where everything goes right. An edited version of the song is being played on KPWR-FM, whose playlist gives good insight into inner city (especially) teen tastes. (See Pop Eye, Page 62.) Also recommended: A Lighter Shade of Brown’s “Homies” and Digable Planets’ “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).”