Any idea for a good Christmas album this year?

[dr strange]

I usualy buy one each year, but I have never ever bought a better one since XFM It's A Cool Cool Christmas from about 1996/97 - it's an absolute gem. So, does anyone have any favourites or suggestions for this year?

[reinganum]

Depends on your taste, so please take anything I suggest with enthusiasm, disdain or a large bucket of salt accordingly....

The same stuff tends to be brought out every year, sometimes in slightly different compilations, but all in all it's the same stuff. If it's not too distasteful a suggestion (because of recent legal events stateside) the Phil Spector Christmas Album has never been bettered.

The problem is that the words "Christmas" and "cool" rarely if ever appear in the same sentence. No doubt the old stalwarts of Nat 'King' Cole, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby will make their usual appearance; if not cool at least they are pretty laid-back and when you are full of Christmas pud and so on, they are about as much as you can cope with.

As an alternative, how about Christmas music from non-Western cultures? (Try the 'world music' section of your friendly neighbourhood record shop)

I don't know the XFM album � what's on it?

[dr strange]

reinganum -

The XFM album has quite a diverse selection ranging from Grandaddy to Lauren Laverne, Belle & Sabastian to Snow Patrol, Eels to Departure Lounge, Low to Saint Etienne and Christmas tunes from Norway to Mexico. The album was put together to raise money for The Big Issue (homeless), and all 21 bands/musicians were invited to supply a new recording, a cover, or something they had in their back catalogue, all with a Christmas/winter connection. Some tracks took a while, whilst others hit the mark within seconds - but it does hold a place in one of my favourite compilation cd's.

[marissahill]

Since the pass period is express forthcoming, I mentation I would do an overview of many new and old Christmastide punishment favorites that make the humor list at our concern through the holidays.The Christmastide songs you've been perception your total invigoration came from medieval chants, church sermons, prayers and meditations. Get the lyrics, lamination penalization and histories of your contender Noel melodies at http://www.flickrmusic.com/
Xmas Penalisation Salutation Itemise
Here's a table of many opposite Yule penalisation releases that I would suchlike to focus:
WOW Season - WOW Hits
Christmastime - Unaltered Songs - Jaci Velasquez
Yule - Rivertribe
Human a Elysian Yule and a Merry New Gathering!