More Christmas music recommendations

Glee: The Music: The Christmas Album
NEW CD-HOLIDAY VARIOUS GLEE
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The cast from TV's Glee perform Christmas standards such as "O Christmas Tree," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "O Holy Night" that were featured on the December 7 Christmas episode. The girls do their version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and the guys do their unique take of "Jingle Bells." I love the fun and energetic "Deck the Rooftop" and also Lea Michelle's version of The Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling." Lea Michelle and Corey Monteith's performance of George Michael's "Last Christmas" is one of my favorite songs on the CD. My other favorite is the duet between Chris Colfer and Darren Criss on "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

Home Alone: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
CD-MUSICAL ST WILLIAMS HOME
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One of the reasons I'm a big fan of the movie Home Alone is the music, especially the distinctive "Home Alone Main Title" ("Somewhere in My Memory"). The score was composed and conducted by John Williams. In addition to the instrumental pieces are the songs "White Christmas" by The Drifters, "Please Come Home for Christmas" by Southside Johnny Lyon, and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Mel Tormé. I love the Drifters' version of "White Christmas" -- the Bing Crosby classic is transformed into a soulful groove! Additionally, a choir performs the songs "O Holy Night," "Carol of the Bells," and "Somewhere in My Memory."

Merry Christmas II You by Mariah Carey
NEW CD-HOLIDAY CAREY MERRY
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Mariah follows up her successful 1994 album Merry Christmas with Merry Christmas II You, which again strikes a nice balance between traditional Christmas songs and originals. Mariah co-wrote the songs "Oh Santa!," "Christmas Time is in the Air Again," When Christmas Comes," and "One Child." The vibrant, R&B flavored dance song "Oh Santa!" is probably my favorite on the CD.  Be sure to check out "O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus," which finds Mariah singing with her mother Patricia Carey. Listening to the song, you'll wonder if they got together because they wanted to see who could hit more consecutive high notes (verdict: Mariah's mom). The CD also includes a live version of "O Holy Night" and an "extra festive version" of "All I Want for Christmas is You." If you enjoyed Mariah's previous Christmas CD you will also like this one.

What we're listening to: Elf soundtrack

CD-MUSICAL ST VARIOUS ELF
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The 2003 movie Elf stars Will Ferrell as an unwaveringly positive candy-loving human raised by elves who journeys to New York City to meet his dad. While Will Ferrell does sing several times during the movie, his duet on "Baby It's Cold Outside" with co-star Zooey Deshanel is not included here. Instead Deshanel duets with Leon Redbone (who also provides the voice of Leon the Snowman in the movie). I still like their version and really enjoy the tone of Deshanel's voice. Redbone also sings "Christmas Island" and "Winter Wonderland." The holiday songs on the soundtrack are complemented by a couple non-holiday cuts, Louis Prima's "Pennies From Heaven" and Billy Preston's "Nothing From Nothing."

The film's soundtrack has a nice selection of retro Christmas music, including Ella Fitzgerald's "Sleigh Ride," Lena Horne's "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," and Eartha Kitt's classic "Santa Baby." Other songs, like the medley of "Sleigh Ride / Santa Claus Party" performed by Ferrante and Teicher and Les Baxter, Jingle Bells performed by Jim Reeves, and Eddy Arnold's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," make you feel like you're in one of the stop-motion holiday specials from the '60s like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Or maybe that's just me. In any case, these are versions of classic songs that radio stations seem to refrain from playing for the most part (with the exception of "Santa Baby"), so I enjoyed finding a Christmas album that felt new and fresh.

What we're listening to: Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens

The same old Christmas songs dominate the radio and the insides of stores and malls; how many times can you hear "The Christmas Song" overdone by chart-topping singers? For something different, listen to this five-disc set of Christmas songs from Sufjan Stevens. Released in 2006, each disc is an EP that was previously only given to his friends and family from 2001-2006. Well-known traditional Christmas songs like "We Three Kings," "Little Drummer Boy," and "Away in a Manger" are included, as well as lesser known traditional songs (at least to my ears), like "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming." Stevens also contributes original songs with unique titles you won't find anywhere else, like "It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!" and "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!"

I really enjoy the arrangements of the songs, especially the ones where Stevens plays the banjo. I feel that the musicians on each song are genuinely celebrating the spirit of Christmas; the performances have a grassroots, down home feel to them. The music is a perfect fit for walking in the snow, putting up decorations, or baking cookies. I keep finding myself replaying the first disc, Noel, with its stripped down sound and arrangements of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming." On these songs especially Stevens' vocals and the song arrangements convey a particular "joyful sadness" that I can't help but be drawn to. In the essay "Christmas Tube Socks," included in the CD booklet, Stevens comments on the "joyful sadness" of Christmas songs, and I think that phrase is a good descriptor for many of the Christmas songs included in this set.

The boxed set also includes a fun booklet with chord charts, song lyrics, and drawings!
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