by Jon Pareles

MARY LEE'S CORVETTE Transparency reigns in the songs of Mary Lee Kortes, the leader of Mary Lee's Corvette. On the album "700 Miles" (Bar/None), her voice is clear, her lyrics direct and her music poised and tuneful, with understated folk-rock arrangements that ride easily on her acoustic guitar. With flickers of wry humor, she sings about love and hopes and memories in songs so meticulously crafted they sound completely natural.