Cover Story: New holiday CDs
Here’s our ranked guide to some of this year’s releases.
Key:
XXX-treme sleigh ride = Lots of fun
Snow globe = Occasionally nice moments
Gift-wrapped socks = Functional but blah
Rancid egg nog = Avoid like the antibiotic-resistant clap
Ultimate Soul Christmas
Who: Various artists4
You can expect: A heavy-hitting lineup of R&B growlers (Bobby Womack, Otis Redding), chanteuses (Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson), crooners (Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway) and slap-yo’-mama harmonizers (the Stylistics).
Pleasure principle: XXX-treme sleigh rideEverything You Want for Christmas
Who: The nouveau-retro Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
You can expect: Swinging big band numbers that will make you party like its 1949.
Pleasure principle: Snow globe
Chris Isaak Christmas
Who: Singer/songwriter-turned- heartthrob-turned-sitcom star-turned-Christmas jingler Chris Isaak
You can expect: A blandly rendered suite that never seems to get going.
Pleasure principle: Gift-wrapped socksMusic from The O.C.: Mix 3 — Have A Very Merry Chrismukkah
Who: Various artists
You can expect: One fine set o’ tunes ranging from moody (the Raveonette’s “The Christmas Song”) to coolly kitsch (Jimmy Eat World’s take on Wham’s “Last Christmas”) to spare and pretty (Ben Kweller’s “Rock of Ages,” Leona Naess’ “Christmas,” and Ron Sexsmith’s “Maybe This Christmas”).
Pleasure principle: XXX-treme sleigh ride
Barenaked for the Holidays
Who: Canadian fun boys Barenaked Ladies
You can expect: Jokey tracks like “I Have a Dreidel” alongside earnestly sung cuts (“Snowman”) and covers of MTV-era standards (“Wonderful Christmastime,” “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”).
Pleasure principle: Snow globe
Merry Christmas with Love
Who: Ex-“American Idol” eunuch Clay Aiken
You can expect: A thoroughly ball-less set of sap that will make your Christmas more like Crap-mass.
Pleasure principle: Rancid egg nog