David Baerwald, Here Comes the New Folk Underground (3 1/2 stars) Many a modern rock minstrel has stumbled while trying to get his groove on. But on his first new album in nine years, longtime cult favorite Baerwald shows a real affinity for gentle R&B textures and also reaffirms his flair for folk-based songcraft. The funk-tinged Bozo Weirdo Wacko Creep crackles with puckish pleasure, while the more moodily soulful Love #29 evokes some of Van Morrison's better recent work. The Crash is similarly wistful, with the grainy sweetness of a vintage Stones single. Though Baerwald is clearly a clever chap, his piquant lyrics and pleasing arrangements avoid the kind of hipper-than-thou posturing that mars the efforts of many other alt-rock heroes. � Elysa Gardner

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