Holiday Gift-Giving--The Hints of ’92

How does Madonna’s musical product compare with her literary and film endeavors?. . .Which of those Seattle bands offers the best grunge for the buck? . . . Is Garth’s latest album as good as his show?. . .Which rappers are for kids and which are for adults only?. . .Are there some worthy soundtrack albums out there?

Those are the kinds of questions facing holiday shoppers. Calendar’s annual Top 40 Shopping Guide is designed to ease the burden by summarizing The Times’ reviews of 40 of the nation’s most popular and/or critically admired albums, listed alphabetically. The ratings are based on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent). The comments are from the original reviews, but the ratings sometimes reflect additional staff input.

* * * Wreckx-N-Effect, “Hard or Smooth,” MCA. “Rump Shaker,” this album’s hit entry in rap’s burgeoning cult of the derriere, is one example of how the brawny but musical rappers rock the party. The producers contribute raw dance grooves, tasty synth effects and grinding, up-front hip-hop beats.