JUDGMENT Pop: Bruce Hornsby tells serious stories A NIGHT ON THE TOWN - Bruce Hornsby & the Range (RCA): Although the title indicates otherwise, Hornsby's third album is no lighthearted frolic. The title track, for instance, is the tale of a pool hall fight that scars one combatant and lands the other in jail. On subsequent songs, Hornsby ruminates on the Ku Klux Klan ("Fire on the Cross"), the environment ("Barren Ground"), lost ambitions ("Standing on the Mountain," "Across the River") and the battle of day-to-day living ("Another Day," "Carry 1 the Water"). Lyrically it works - Hornsby writes compelling narratives and never gets too preachy with his philosophies - and musically it succeeds most of the time. There's less of Hornsby's trademark piano solo work here, opening a niche for guitar, organ and synthesizer - the looping, Prince-like keyboard figure on "Stranded on Easy Street" is a particular joy. Bruce Hornsby The Range, meanwhile, is ably abetted by guests including Jerry Garcia, Shawn Colvin, jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter and banjo picker Bela Fleck (as well as Bob Seger singers Shaun Murphy and Laura Creamer). A few tunes, however, don't meet the standards, including the unfocused "Standing on the Mountain" and the pretty-but-ponderous "Lost Soul." That's the first time we've encountered those problems on a Hornsby record, a foreboding sign amid the praiseworthy ambitions to progress. MARIAH CAREY - (Columbia): A big push is planned for this versatile : and emotive new singer, who covers all the pop, rock, R&B and gospel bases on this compelling but derivative 10-song debut album. JOE COCKER LIVE • - (Capitol): A couple of inconsequential new songs are unnecessary appendages to a concert collection that's solid, though it does miss some of the bohemian looseness of Cocker's classic "Mad Dogs and Englishmen." KITE - Kristy MacColl (Charisma): Chippy is the only way to describe this debut from a refreshing pop-country singer and writer who takes neither flack nor prisoners. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE • - Buckwheat Zydeco (Island): Another cheery Cajun romp, spiced by remakes of "Hey, Good Lookin' " (with Dwight Yoakam) and "Route 66." KATYDIDS - (Reprise): Nick Lowe produced this quintet's highly enjoyable collection of well-crafted, straightforward rock songs. ENERGY ORCHARD - (MCA): This latest Irish export covers much of U2's territory, though its upbeat numbers merit a listen. A BIT OF WHAT YOU FANCY - The London Quireboys (Capitol): More than a bit, if what you fancy is rowdy rock 'n' roll that recalls vintage Rod Stewart & the Faces. By Gary Graff
