BLUR “Blur: The Best Of” ( 1/2) Virgin Records

Best-of albums and greatest hits collections are often looked at with disdain, as if an artist has

nothing new to say, but wants to wring a little more green out of his past.

True enough there are plenty of collections created with that MO, but “Blur: The Best Of” is a compilation with a very real sense of self-examination by a band that’s been in the game for more than a decade.

It’s as if the quartet sat down and attempted to figure what made it one of the major players in the second British invasion of the ’90s.

If this were the usual greatest hits treatment, the package would have probably open with the 10-year-old “She’s So High” – Blur’s American debut single, but instead the band sets the tenor with “Beetlebum” which musically acknowledges the band’s deep debt to The Beatles.

“Song 2” arguably Blur’s finest composition, fills slot No. 2 on the 18-track disc. Blur’s new wave nod “Girls & Boys” features another stylistic facet of this Brit rock band is capable of.

Those who intend to snag this disc should make sure to get the limited edition double-disc version, with a disc full of Blur’s singles performed live in London’s Wembley Arena last December. For those who already own all or most of Blur’s catalog save your cash, others don’t hesitate.

EVERCLEAR “Songs From An American Movie, Vol. II: Good Time for a Bad Attitude” () Capitol

While their “Songs From An American Movie, Vol I: Learning How to Smile” is having a respectable showing in the record racks, Everclear makes a very unorthodox career move by releasing a follow-up record – “Vol II: Good Time for a Bad Attitude” – just four months later.

The songs from “Smile” have a distinctly different personality from this new material. The original, summer-release “Smile” was radio-friendly pop that rested on lushly orchestrate arrangements including strings and horns.

Like its title indicates, “Bad Attitude” is much edgier music that’s closer to Everclear’s hard-rock roots. Back at full power for “Attitude” are Art Alexakis’ fast-fingered guitar solos and aggressive vocals.

If anything, “Smile” was the aberration, a nice musical respite to keep things interesting for the band, but this is the album that Everclear fans have been expecting.

The disc opens with the terrific guitar-powered “When it All Goes Wrong” a sneering, spit-in-your-eye rocker that demands volume and enough room to bang your head. Still there are a few duds on this collection (like the repetitive “Babytalk” and the jangly, soft-headed, self-doubting, reverb laden “Out of My Depth” ) but for the most part this is a very worthy disc.

GREGORIAN “Masters of Chant” (Half a star) Edel American Records

You don’t fly submarines, you shouldn’t wear your underpants on your head and if you’re a Gregorian chant ensemble, don’t chant rock songs.

Gregorian, the 12-man Brit vocal group, violated this little known musical canon and in doing also defied the laws of physics with an album that blows and sucks simultaneously.

This twisted disaster of concept and execution only makes good on one song – “Scarborough Fair” – whose olde English roots lend the chant treatment some validity.

Otherwise avoid this novelty collection, which features songs like Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman,” U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” in chant format.

Broadway singer Sarah Brightman, who’s trying to build a pop music career, makes another dubious career move by offering her services as a guest voice for Gregorian’s cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up.”

DWEEZIL ZAPPA “Automatic” ( 1/2) Favored Nations Entertainment

Like his late dad Frank, Dweezil Zappa is a musician who seems to play for himself and hopes a few others like what he’s doing.

“Automatic,” Dweezil’s fourth solo disc (his first in nine years), is mostly instrumental music that has heart.

Zappa is a guitar ace who’s fast, accurate and inventive with his instrument. He doesn’t fill each track with too much noodling, and the music is the better for it. Schooled guitarists will appreciate his restraint, especially in the electric renditions of “Habanera” and “Los Toreadors.”

Zappa’s is also very good at his update of the anti-Christmas classic “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” which features his brother Ahmet Zappa’s inspiring lead vocal baritone.

The cover of the “Hawaii Five-0” theme is filler on this dozen track disc, but it does sound like it was a lot of fun to play.

This is a disc best appreciated by other six-string slingers and air-guitar wannabes.