Visions Other Than Sugarplums

With two home video packages each from Guns N’ Roses and Metallica and one or two releases that might not be suitable for family viewing, it’s a tough season for a rock ‘n’ roll Santa. The Calendar Video Shopping Guide of releases by some of pop’s biggest names offers some help. The videos, listed alphabetically, are rated on a scale from one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).

* The Black Crowes, “Who Killed That Bird Out on Your Window Sill. . .The Movie,” Def American Visuals. The Crowes support marijuana legalization, but the endless documentary scenes surrounding the MTV videos here are so stunning in their vapidity that it’s virtually a cautionary tape against the cause. At least the flagrantly nostalgic music’s kind of a kick, except when the band mauls John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy.” * * * Sting, “Sting--MTV Unplugged,” A&M;/PolyGram. The bad news is Sting has been to Kevin Costner’s barber. The good is that the acoustic treatment in this latest release from the unstoppable “MTV Unplugged” franchise considerably warms up the eight songs therein from the shorn star, including both Police and solo selections.