MUSIC . . . REMAKING THE BLUES

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Rock is good for rage, lust and protest. But for angst, yearning and existential misery, nothing beats the blues. That's why many young musicians are adding a blue tint to new albums such as British-born screecher PJ Harvey's "To Bring You My Love," Houston native Chris Whitley's "Din of Ecstasy" and Louisianan Chris Thomas' "21st Century Blues From Da Hood."TIME critic Christopher John Farleysays Harvey's music lacks "subtlety or grace," while Whitley's album is "painfully, almost uncomfortably honest." But it's not all bad. Farley says Thomas' work features a "crunching beat, brash guitars and howling harmonica solos."