Christmastime is here again

Well, it finally happened.

I was finally subjected to my first live performance of the season of "Feliz Navidad," which ne'er fails to make me want to gouge my eardrums out with a knitting needle. I also was at a fancy office Christmas party on Friday night and the soul cover band kept throwing in trombone lines from Joy To The World and Sleigh Ride, etc etc etc.

It brought to my attention the fact that this post is long overdue. I've got a pretty sizeable collection of "Christmas Music That Won't Drive You To Drink Unless You Want To" -- which just got a shot in the arm this year thanks to a rockin' 3-CD compilation I received from Philly friend Brian (yay Brian!).

There's a lot of schmaltzy crap out there this season, kids. Stay safe. Here's a haven of good stuff for your seasonal mixmastery:

FUEL FOR YOUR FRIENDLY CHRISTMASTIME FIRE
We Four Kings - The Blue Hawaiians (surf music!)
Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
Do They Know It's Christmas - Pete Yorn
Work on Christmas - Harvey Danger
God Is Real (Jesus Is Alive) - John Davis (of Superdrag)
Angel In The Snow (unreleased version) - Elliott Smith
Washington Square - Chris Isaak
I'd Like You For Christmas - Julie London
Donna and Blitzen - Badly Drawn Boy
You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Luce
That Was The Worst Christmas Ever! - Sufjan Stevens
Back Door Santa - The Black Crowes
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel (Elf)
Winter Wonderland - Liz Phair
The Gift of Grace - Denison Witmer
Christmas Eve - Teenage Fanclub
Silent Night - Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama
When I Get Home For Christmas - Snow Patrol
Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas - Okkervil River
Xmas Curtain - My Morning Jacket
Fairytale of New York - Stars
The Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne
Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
What A Year For A New Year - Dan Wilson (of Semisonic)
Merry Christmas Everybody - Rooney
The Winter Song - Eisley
White Christmas - Mark Kozelek
Christmas - Leona Naess
Christmastime is Here - Snowden
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Hem
Holy, Holy, Holy - Sufjan Stevens
Silent Night - Brian Wilson


**HO HO HO, The file as a ZIP**


That helps to slightly ease the sting of briefly having -- and then cruelly LOSING -- the vinyl Christmas With Elvis record last night at a houseparty with a white elephant gift exchange.

It was mine. I was so excited. But now the doe-eyed Elvis (with those dewy lips, good heavens) is gone from my Christmas celebration, stolen by another gal, sending me home with a plastic candy cane full of little bottles of flavored Stoli instead.

I'm still in mourning.