Critics' Darlings

LESTER LEAPS IN It seems we haven't heard the last of Lester Bangs, the legendary rock critic immortalized in Cameron Crowe's film ''Almost Famous.'' Mickey Leigh, who was in Bangs' band Birdland in the '70s, is organizing a tribute album to the late scribe. The idea came about when Birdland got back together to play at a book party for ''Let It Blurt,'' the Bangs bio written by Chicago based rock writer Jim DeRogatis. ''We realized there were about a half dozen songs that I'd written with Lester that we'd never recorded,'' says Leigh, brother of the late Joey Ramone. ''Somebody suggested we get some other people to play and sing, and it seemed like a really good idea to make it a tribute album.'' Leigh says the album will also include songs from Bangs' post-Birdland band, the Delinquents. So far Lester fans Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Chris Stein (Blondie), and Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) have signed on. But the really big news is that Bruce Springsteen himself has expressed interest. ''Yeah, it's true,'' says Leigh. ''We're waiting to get a confirmation letter from [Springsteen manager] Jon Landau. Then we'll start shopping for a label.'' The bidding war starts here.

PLANET ROCK Neptune may be cold, but the Neptunes couldn't be hotter. The Virginia duo has produced everyone from 'N Sync to No Doubt, and their solo debut, ''In Search Of...,'' has generated big buzz. But after delaying the album's release for months, they've decided to rerecord it with live instruments, pushing the street date to October. Pharrell Williams, who met Neptunes partner Chad Hugo in a jazz band, says, ''The music and lyrics were there, but the magic wasn't.''

The CD, attributed to alias N*E*R*D (Noone Ever Really Dies), will include drums, bass, guitar, and organ. ''With the old album, you had to drink or smoke to get into it,'' says Williams. ''The new album will intoxicate you by itself.'' -- Evan Serpick