WILL ACKERMAN; "Pure Will Ackerman" (Windham Hill/Legacy) ***

Acoustic guitarist Will Ackerman, who founded Windham Hill, is the anchor for the "Pure" series. The 15 tracks here include the dreamy "Driving," his trademark finger style on "The Bricklayer's Beautiful Daughter," the introspective "Pictures" and the majestic "Hawk Circle," featuring pianist George Winston and the late guitarist Michael Hedges. A new heartfelt composition, "Murray's Song" is a bonus track. This one is a keeper. — Scott Iwasaki

AEROSMITH; "Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith" (Columbia/Geffen) * 1/2

Aerosmith, which has had more than its share of greatest-hits compilations, releases yet another. This 18-song CD features two new songs — "Sedona Sunrise" and "Devil's Got a New Disguise" — which could be throwaway tracks. Though they're fresher than "Dream On," "Sweet Emotion," "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" and "Love in an Elevator" — again. Along with the Run D.M.C. version of "Walk This Way." Same old same old. — S.I.

ALICE IN CHAINS; "The Essential Alice in Chains" (Sony) *** 1/2

Those who followed Alice in Chains' rise to stardom likely already own their albums. But for those jumping on the bandwagon late, this package of 28 songs does a better-than-average job of covering the entire Layne Staley era. The only song inexplicably missing in this "essential" compilation is "Down in a Hole" — which is almost enough to dock it a half-star. Otherwise, all the big songs from the group's three full-length albums, two EPs and live-unplugged recording with MTV are here. — Pat Reavy

ANTI-PASTI; "No Government: The Best of " (Anarchy Music) *** 1/2

This is a reissue of the 1996 Cleopatra Records compilation of the second-wave punk group with a seminal sound. The tracks on this compilation include the catchy "No Government," "1980," "Two Years Too Late" and "Another Dead Soldier," and pretty much run in chronological order, nostalgia for the early '80s punk scene. — S.I.

THE BANGLES; "We Are the '80s" (Columbia/Legacy) ***