THE BAND Northern Lights-Southern Cross (Capitol)

A recent nation-wide telephone poll on Northern Lights-Southern Cross, the Band's first collection of new songs in four years, has produced a solid consensus. All respondents agree that the new album is the Band's best since Stage Fright, and probably their best since The Band. Representative comments include, "1 can't stop playing it," "My favorite song changes every time T hear it," "This is the way a Band record is supposed to sound," and "What's the last verse of 'Acadian Driftwood' about, anyway?" *