In Brief

*** 1/2 Various artists, “No Alternative,” Arista. Terrific new numbers by Smashing Pumpkins and an uncredited Nirvana and enticing songs by Soul Asylum (Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”) and the Goo Goo Dolls (the Stones’ “Bitch”) make this entry in the AIDS-benefit “Red Hot” series not just a worthy charity project, but possibly the best new-rock sampler extant.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).