Mamma Mia, Motley Crue, The Alarm, New Guitar Summit, Phil Vassar

Who knew Meryl Streep could sing?

Leading the film version of the musical that captured the hearts of thousands, she goes head to head with the Dark Knight and The Joker this weekend. But don’t sell her – or the bright, lighthearted musical based on ABBA tunes – short.

She can hold her own, and so can Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan. Pierce Brosnan? Right. The former Double-O Seven joins Streep in the role of one of the past loves – and potential father – who might walk Seyfried down the aisle. Brosnan has a folk-rock sound going on for “When All Is Said and Done,” but Streep’s powerful vocals on “Money, Money, Money” and “The Winner Takes It All” sounds as if she were destined for Broadway.

Wonder how she dances? Oh, well, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger put on quite a show in “Chicago.” How could we expect any less from this Oscar winner?

– Kay Reynolds, The Pilot

Soundtrack: "Mamma Mia"

Rating: Go get it now

Tracks to download: “Money, Money, Money,” “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”

Mötley Crüe returns with its first all-original CD in many years with an ode to the days of growing up in the L.A. music scene.

“Saints of Los Angeles” is the musical version of the Crüe’s autobiography, “The Dirt .” This CD feels like it could have come out right after 1989’s “Dr. Feelgood.” Kicking off the disc is “Face Down in the Dirt,” a punk-inspired rocker that sets the mood for the rest of the CD.

The title track, among the best on the disc, grabs you immediately with Mick Mar’s roaring, overdriven slamming chords and Tommy Lee’s thunderous backbeat . “MF of the Year,” another outstanding track, moves the band forward in time to when it ruled the airwaves . Musically, the choppy, syncopated synth intro sets up a killer groove for vocalist Vince Neil to lay his trademark lines.

Most of the disc is solid, but some tracks seem like they’re trying too hard to provide the band’s back story. “Down at the Whiskey” is almost laughable . But Nikki Sixx, mastermind of the group, has done it again with this release.

The self-proclaimed Saints of Los Angeles have returned, and for fans , the wait has been worth it.

– Mike Doyle

Motley Crüe: "Saints of Los Angeles"

Rating: Go get it now

Tracks to download: “Saints of Los Angeles,” “MF of the Year,” “Face Down in the Dirt”

It’s nice to know that some bands, no matter how long they’ve been around, still know how to rock and can stay true to their roots and the music that sets them free.

The Alarm’s 15-song CD delivers on all fronts, from the band’s classic guitar riffs and resounding drums to the classic harmonica harmonies.

From anthems like “Fightback and “Kill to Get What You Want (Die for What You Believe In)” to solid rock songs like “Watching Me Watching You Watching Them Watching Us” and “Love Hope and Strength,” this album deserves to be played multiple times. Singer/songwriter Mike Peters leads his group of musicians, including James Stevenson (Generation X) and Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy), with confidence and bravado.

After fighting leukemia and knocking it out, Peters returns with a new lease on life – just listen to the lyrics on some of the songs if you want to catch some of that optimism. For those of us who adored The Alarm when the band came onto the scene in the 1980s, CDs like this keep the love affair growing.

– Toni Guagenti, The Pilot

The Alarm: "Guerilla Tactics"

Rating: Go get it now

Tracks to download: “Three Sevens Clash,” “Fightback,” “Watching Me Watching You Watching Them Watching Us”

With the second convening of the New Guitar Summit, lovers of swing and blues and those enamored with timeless music performed by longtime veterans should rejoice.

This latest finds the three New England-based guitar giants back on the summit offering another set of unabashed swing jazz and jump blues, the same way they did for their 2004 debut.

The project reunites Jay Geils, late of the J. Geils Band; seven-string whiz Gerry Beaudoin; and “the guitar players’ player,” Duke Robillard, a founding member of Roomful of Blues and in-demand session player and producer. As usual, the three left their egos at the studio door, recruited a hard-swinging rhythm section, turned on the recorders and simply sat back and wailed.

Original tunes sound like classics, and classics, including ones by Christian and Benny Goodman, sound brand new. An album highlight is the guest work of vocalist/guitarist Randy Bachman, who takes the lead on two Mose Allison tunes, making both his own. “Shivers” is aptly named.

The vintage grooves contained on this disc were cool during their heyday, and they’re totally cool now.

– Eric Feber, The Pilot

New Guitar Summit: "Shivers"

Rating: Go get it now

Tracks to download: “Flying Home,” “Your Mind Is on Vacation,” “Broadway”

Songwriter Phil Vassar gets off to a promising start on his new release, but as time goes on too much of the music on “Prayer of a Common Man” sounds like too many others .

For the most part, the lyrics are a different story. That is where Vassar shines. The best example is the tell-it-like-it-is title tune with its downer look at today’s problems: “The house of cards I built is mortgaged to the hilt.”

Vassar’s unhappiness with the state of the nation is also expressed in “This Is My Life.” The rightful complaint is that “the oil man is stickin’ it to the middle class – they can kiss my price of gas.”

Clever lyrics are a trademark with the singer/ producer, as some of the offerings on this CD attest. There is sweetness and light on “Love Is a Beautiful Thing.” Vassar tells us that “The World Is a Mess” in a song featuring the line “My boss is a jerk.”

If you have girlfriend problems, you’ll find sympathetic thoughts with “Let Me Love You Tonight” and “It’s Only Love.”

“Prayer of a Common Man” shines lyrically, but help is needed with the music.

– Frank Roberts

Phil Vassar: "Prayer of a Common Man"

Rating: Borrow it from a friend

Tracks to download: “Prayer of a Common Man,” “This Is My Life,” “Love Is a Beautiful Thing”