Making a list? Checking it twice? Here are some guidelines to keep befuddled spouses, parents of teenagers and others on the right track.

* 1/2 MARILYN MANSON, “Antichrist Superstar,” Nothing/Interscope. The album covers acres of harrowing musical ground, but without ideas to anchor the stormy sound, it’s only so much sound and fury.

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Albums and other items in the Gift Guide are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).