New York Post

Review by Dan Aquilante

DECIDING what albums to get has been a snap so far this year, with just a few A-list acts such as U2, Eminem, Green Day and Bob Dylan releasing new music, and they've all done it weeks apart from each other - as if nobody wanted to steal anybody else's thunder.

But the gloves come off today, and the battle for your music allowance is on, with more than a dozen new albums out. The following guide to this Super Music Tuesday dishes the lowdown on five of today's most anticipated releases...

Vibe: With the death of band member LeRoi Moore last August, this album has the feel of a New Orleans jazz funeral, where the fallen are celebrated with first-line dirges and the joyous second-line jams. Both are here, with a major emphasis on letting the good times roll. DMB fans take note: The boys play a free show Friday morning for the "Today" show at Rockefeller Plaza.

How it stacks up: A lot of people think the DMB hasn't had a great album since "Before These Crowded Streets" in 1998. But this is a classic DMB record in the vein of "Crash," from its slick syncopated beats, delicate and jazzy jams and Dave's loopily growled vocals.

First-rate music, it's the best collection Matthews and company have released in a decade.

Hit: "Spaceman" for its rapid fire, nearly rapped, percolating lyrics that sound like they are repeating Red Hot Chili Peppers. This one will be a powerhouse in concert.

Miss: Even though "Funny the Way It Is" was selected as the record's lead single, it's musically repetitive and lyrically silly as it tries to make sense of why things don't always work out.

Rating: 4 Stars