Holiday Gift Guide : Calendar’s little helpers offer suggestions in pop, jazz, holiday, family and classical music, plus videos, computer games and books. (Good news: They’re easy to wrap.) : POP MUSIC

* * * 1/2 ALANIS MORISSETTE, “Jagged Little Pill,” Maverick/Reprise. Like Dylan and Lennon, Morissette leaves no doubt that both her bile and bliss come straight from the heart. A fresh talent who’s determined to let her feelings out, whether with a snarl or a smile.

* * * 1/2 PASSENGERS, “Original Soundtracks 1,” Island. This mesmerizing collaboration between Brian Eno and U2 works as a flowing whole, characterized by sheets of gentle electronic sounds and an understated, reptilian pulse.

* * * THE PHARCYDE, “Labcabincalifornia,” Delicious Vinyl. The L.A. rap group follows its playful, clever debut by getting even subtler. The pleasures are nowhere near as immediate, but stick with it and the little things emerge as big attractions.

* * * RANCID, “ . . . And Out Come the Wolves,” Epitaph. Lacks the big-picture perspective and cultural urgency of a model like the Clash’s “London Calling,” but Rancid still brings a compelling sense of purpose to its songs.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (f a ir), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).