Pop Music : Record Rack : In Brief

* * 1/2 Filter, “Title of Record,” Reprise. Despite the generic title, Filter’s sophomore effort is actually richer and more colorful than its debut. Volatile epics such as “Welcome to the Fold” seethe with the same angst that fired up the band’s big 1995 hit “Hey Man Nice Shot,” but more meticulous production gives them a hard, polished edge. That studio savvy also keeps the surprisingly tender, mellow numbers from going mushy.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.