Editor’s Note: In Sound Advice, the first Saturday of every month, veteran NEWS entertainment writer Dale McGarrigle and a revolving stable of NEWS writers review new albums from across the musical spectrum.

“We’re a Happy Family – A Tribute to Ramones” (DV8/Columbia) – Various artists

Rock music today owes a great debt to the Ramones. Probably the most influential punk band ever, the Ramones’ loud, fast, stripped-down, three-chord sound lives on today, played by groups dressed in their trademark T-shirts, jeans and leather jackets. Without the Ramones, there would be no punk, no alt-rock, no speed metal.

With the passing in recent years of two of the band’s founding members – Joey and DeeDee – many of their musical descendents, and some of their contemporaries, have come together to honor them with “We’re a Happy Family.” It’s that rare tribute album that works, and that’s largely due to the timeless quality of their songs, which have been ingrained in music fans over the past quarter-century. You just can’t slap some strings on “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio” and have people stand for it.

The album, which features an introductory appreciation by Ramones fan Stephen King, is produced by Rob Zombie (who contributes a metal version of “Blitzkrieg Bop”) and Johnny Ramone. As such, the music stays true to the Ramones’ spirit, and most don’t stray too far from the originals. Notable exceptions are Marilyn Manson’s “The KKK Took My Baby Away,” U2’s “Beat on the Brat” and Tom Waits’ “Return of Jackie & Judy.”

Because of the strong interpretations on it, “We’re a Happy Family” is a tribute album that stands tall. Even better, maybe it will lead Rancid, Offspring and Green Day fans to go out and buy some Ramones CDs, so they might understand where it all began. – Dale McGarrigle

“Broadway My Way” (Atlantic) – Linda Eder

Linda Eder knows she is a lucky woman. Her singing won her a 13-week gig on “Star Search,” where she met her husband, a Broadway composer, and then pretty much skipped over to Broadway (in “Jekyll and Hyde”) and Carnegie Hall. Now she’s waiting to open “Camille Claudel,” which her husband wrote for her. All that, plus she’s beautiful.

Even Eder’s voice on her new release “Broadway My Way” sounds lucky.

It also sounds a lot like Barbra Streisand, a comparison Eder probably wearies of hearing. But that doesn’t make it any less true, especially when she chanteuses frantically through Streisand’s signature tune “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

But from her first breathy note in “I Am What I Am,” Eder proves herself an athletic and bountiful singer. She loves show tunes, the most familiar of which are “On the Street Where You Live” and “The Impossible Dream.” “Man of La Mancha,” which, on the last track, is a gutsy, galloping version. And “Edelweiss,” oddly, is presented with a Celtic-like pulsing.

Eder moves her voice easily around three octaves and has an energetic read on nearly every of her favorite songs. The spunk of this recording is both amazing and exhausting.

For hardcore musical fans, “Broadway My Way” is a brawny addition to the canon of belting divas born with a gift for Broadway exultation. For others, Eder’s insistent dynamics may be somewhat cloying. – Alicia Anstead

“Mess You Up” (Virt) – Beth Boucher

With her impressive full-length debut, this Auburn native and University of Maine graduate should make her presence felt, both on college and AAA radio and at venues across the country.

The Boston-based singer-songwriter had already gained some recognition through her eponymous self-released EP, which helped her to gain regular airplay on college radio and a deal with Massachusetts indie label Virt.

Boucher is a talented writer of well-crafted songs, penning all but one tune on the album by herself. Songs such as the title cut, “Elusive Thing,” “Gimme Some Time” and “Intro to Acting” offer insightful analyses of the minefield of relationships. Still Boucher also tackles tough topics, such as domestic violence on “How Long.”

On “Mess You Up,” Boucher continually surprises, offering hooky, offbeat alternative folk rock that’s never dull. With this release, the promising newcomer proves that she’s a person to watch in the crowded singer-songwriter field. – Dale McGarrigle