Frank Sinatra
Christmas Songs by Sinatra
Columbia
More than a decade before the Rat Pack was in full swing, 30-year-Old Blue Eyes cut these 15 classy Christmas tracks—some romp, some swoon, but all will get you in the mood for a Goodfellas-style Christmas.
Various Artists
Maybe This Christmas Tree
Nettwerk
The latest installment of this ultra-Paste-y, Ron Sexsmith-dubbed series features tracks from Pedro The Lion, Death Cab For Cutie, The Raveonettes, Lisa Loeb, and a stellar rendition of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by The Polyphonic Spree.
Red Simpson
Truckers’ Christmas
Sundazed
From Red Simpson’s regular-folks drawl, to the big-hearted, lonesome-holiday-highway song cycle and yuletwanglicious Telecaster on “Santa’s Comin’ in a Big Ol’ Truck,” this is a country Christmas classic.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Everything You Want For Christmas
Big Bad/Vanguard
The notorious big-band revivalists swing around the Christmas tree with plenty of jingle jive for all the beautiful babies, including a cabaret-crooned “Merry Christmas Baby” and a hip romp through “Mr. Heatmiser” from The Year Without A Santa Claus.
Various Artists
A Santa Cause: It’s A Punk Rock Christmas
Immortal
Aside from The A.K.A.’s rocked-out cover of Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis,” most of this pop-punk-loaded set is strictly for too-soon-nostalgic high school seniors who like to holler, “Dude, these are the greatest days of our lives!” over cans of Milwaukee’s Best Light.
Emmylou Harris
Light of The Stable (Expanded and Remastered)
Rhino/WB
Originally released in 1980, this lonesome, countrified, holiday record from the angel-voiced Harris is as breathtaking as a freshly decorated Christmas tree, tinsel and lights shimmering in the dark. Includes three new bonus tracks.
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked for The Holidays
Desperation
Don’t be fooled by the surprisingly somber intro to lead-track “Jingle Bells;” after about two minutes, the fun you were expecting erupts as Canada’s favorite quirk-rockers do what they do best. Complete with a rockin’ rendition of “I Have A Little Dreidel.”
Various Artists
Christmas Grass, Vol. 2
KOCH
A down-home Appalachian Christmas, with a fire in the hearth and some biscuits in the oven. Featuring Dolly Parton, Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Charlie Daniels and more.