The laser age has arrived in State College, digitizing such local musicians as J.R. Mangan, Neo Pseudo and The Invisible Band, and Queen Bee and The Blue Hornet Band onto the spinning magic of compact discs.

Guitarist/bassist/vocalist Kevin Slick of Neo Pseudo said compact discs are cheaper to produce than records. The band also says compact discs have a wider appeal. "People are more interested in listening to compact discs," he said.

And when it comes time to promote the album, radio stations like to see something other than a cassette, he said. Mangan said airplay is his major means of promotion.

"It's hard, though, when you're trying to get on the radio's airlist along with bands like Aerosmith," he said.

Mangan's new CD, due to arrive early next month, is affectionately titled "Pennsylvania Rain." Backing Mangan up on his music gone solo are the members of his new band, tentatively named (he said for lack of anything better) The J.R. Mangan Band.

The J.R. Mangan Band will be debuting tonight at Cafe 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., playing music by such artists as Sting, Jane's Addiction, the Beatles, Prince, and music from Mangan's new CD. Mangan explained this music is different from the classic rock'n'roll of his Stolyn Hours days but just as good.

In a different realm of digital sound waves, Neo Pseudo and The Invisible Band has already come out with its CD-only release, Laughing Symbols: "Nosono".

Produced last summer, this fourteen-track compilation of its first two cassettes -- 1989's World of Symbols and this year's recording of Ritual Laughter -- brings out more of what the band really is, said Slick, who hesitantly described the band's music as "pseudo-folk-tribal-comic-rock-art."

"This CD is pretty much live rather than overdubbing," he said.

He said that since its release, the album has received great reviews and a lot of airtime.

Raging State College blues band Queen Bee and The Blue Hornet Band will also release a new album, Harder Than a Freight Train, on compact disc.

Guitarist Mark Ross said the album, containing six originals and four standards, should arrive April 5 with an east coast distribution. He said the band plans that evening to have a record release party at Cafe 210 West.

Despite rumors of digitized reggae, the Earthtones does not intend to record onto CD anytime soon, lead guitarist Paul Young said. "When we do record again there will be a release on CD," he said.