Music (2001)

ALBUM TITLE/ARTIST

BRITNEY/BRITNEY SPEARS

IN A NUTSHELL

Like it or not, the navel-baring, hip-swiveling teen phenom is both style and role model to legions of girls. The slithering, sexy new video ''I'm a Slave 4 U'' only ups the titillation factor.

WILL KIDS WANT TO HEAR IT?

Just try stopping them...

SEXUAL CONTENT

Some Janet Jackson-lite, heavy-breathing come-ons (''Feelin' kinda naughty come 'n get me now'').

DRUGS/ALCOHOL

This good Southern girl just says no.

VIOLENT CONTENT

Some of her dance moves could cause whiplash.

OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE

A ''hell'' here, an undecipherable, innuendoed grunt there

THE VERDICT

Parents might cringe a bit. Still, it's fairly innocent, with plenty of Uber-pop -- just like her other discs.

APPROPRIATE AGES

10 and up

[ALBUM TITLE/ARTIST]

M!SSUNDAZTOOD/PINK

[IN A NUTSHELL]

This 22-year-old R&B-pop singer is the pink-haired member of the Moulin Rouge ''Lady Marmalade'' quintet. Many songs here are cowritten with 4 Non Blondes (remember them?) singer Linda Perry.

[WILL KIDS WANT TO HEAR IT?]

Oh yeah, after seeing her dance and skateboard in the ''Get the Party Started'' video.

[SEXUAL CONTENT]

Yes (''I'm not that kind of girl/That'll lay there let you come first''), but not in every song. And she does demand respect.

[DRUGS/ALCOHOL]

In ''Just Like a Pill,'' Pink compares her feelings for a guy to taking morphine.

[VIOLENT CONTENT]

Only the emotional kind, as in the breakup of a family.

[OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE]

Some attitudinal refs to ''bitch,'' ''kissing my ass,'' and ''horny boys.''

[THE VERDICT]

Adult delivery. But lyrics like ''Tired of being compared/To damn Britney Spears...That just ain't me'' speak to non-cheerleaders.

[APPROPRIATE AGES]

12 and up

[ALBUM TITLE/ARTIST]

THE BLUEPRINT/JAY-Z

[IN A NUTSHELL]

Famous for sampling Annie in '98's ''Hard Knock Life.'' Current hit ''Izzo (H.O.V.A.)'' declares ''I beat them charges like Rocky'' -- although Jay-Z just received three years' probation for assault.

[WILL KIDS WANT TO HEAR IT?]

They're already singing along to his catchy, Jackson 5-riffing radio hit ''Izzo.''

[SEXUAL CONTENT]

On ''Girls, Girls, Girls,'' the rapper name-checks a rainbow coalition of ladies...and what he'd like to do with every one of them.

[DRUGS/ALCOHOL]

A laundry list, including beer, champagne, crack, coke, and weed.

[VIOLENT CONTENT]

Tough talk about ''packin' heat'' and knives from this former street hustler.

[OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE]

Let's just say that the parental advisory sticker is warranted...on every song.

[THE VERDICT]

Parents of hip-hop fans will have a hard time keeping their kids away from it, so try to get the clean version.

[APPROPRIATE AGES]

The clean version is okay for 14 and up.

[ALBUM TITLE/ARTIST]

ATOMIC/LIT

[IN A NUTSHELL]

This Orange County, Calif., new-wave rock band had a big radio hit with 1999's ''My Own Worst Enemy.'' Trust us. You heard it.

[WILL KIDS WANT TO HEAR IT?]

Yes, because there's plenty of sunny, guitar-driven pop-rock.

[SEXUAL CONTENT]

Nothing graphic (''Says she's been a ho/Had to let me know/On the Jerry Springer Show'').

[DRUGS/ALCOHOL]

A couple of catchy refs to booze (''I hit the city by 3 and the bottle by 4'') and drugs.

[VIOLENT CONTENT]

None, unless you count the pain of getting ''a tattoo...of your cold sad face.''

[OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE]

A few words sprinkled around (''I'm so addicted to you/And you're such a dick to me'').

[THE VERDICT]

An album that parents might like as much as kids, since it will remind them of old faves like the Beach Boys and Devo.

[APPROPRIATE AGES]

12 and up

[ALBUM TITLE/ARTIST]

MORNING VIEW/INCUBUS

[IN A NUTSHELL]

California quintet that incorporates an amalgam of nice-guy hard rock, hip-hop, jazz fusion, and crunchy funk. Think early Red Hot Chili Peppers meets Dave Matthews.

[WILL KIDS WANT TO HEAR IT?]

Sure, especially with the band's loud guitars, soft hearts, and drool-worthy lead singer.

[SEXUAL CONTENT]

Do fantasies about the lead singer count?

[DRUGS/ALCOHOL]

Nope, not a drop, shot, or puff.

[VIOLENT CONTENT]

A fight is merely contemplated. Instead, they espouse turning the other cheek.

[OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE]

None. Though your offspring might have to look up $10 words like existential.

[THE VERDICT]

You can let the youngsters crank this up without worries. Who can quibble with ''I suggest we learn to love ourselves.''

[APPROPRIATE AGES]

Any age -- though the lyrics might be over their heads.

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