Christmas Music: Album Recommendations

A follow up from Tara re: Christmas music:

If you find your thirst for Xmas music merely whetted by this mix, allow me to recommend some full albums.  (Some of the songs on the above mix are what I might call “One Hit Winter Wonderlanders”--either the artist recorded just one song for a compilation album, or the rest of the record is simply not worth buying.)  But these guys are all worth checking out:

MODERN CLASSICS

• Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey - A modern classic in the truest sense of the word.  Can you believe those high notes on O Holy Night??  Xmas miracle, seriously.
• The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album by The Beach Boys - No bad songs on this oldie-but-goodie.  Retro-cool!
• Handel’s Messiah - This one is really more of an ACTUAL classic, seeing as how it was composed in 1742.  One of my favorite holiday traditions involves attending a “sing-along Messiah” event.  Or, as my friends and I refer to it, “singin’ about Jesus.”   If you like choral/classical music, you can’t go wrong here.  If you get really into it, you can buy a score and sing along!  Includes such favorites as “All We Like Sheep” and “Behold, A Virgin Shall Concieve.”  Your grandmas and/or religious aunties will approve.

INDIE XMAS

• Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens - If you already like Sufjan, you will surely enjoy this massive 2-disc compilation of holiday-ish music.
• A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him - My first Xmas album purchase of 2011, and it’s a keeper!  Their retro-twee sound really complements the selection of traditional Xmas songs.  Love it.
• Christmas by Low - Simply beautiful.  Good for a mellow cocktail party or snuggling by the fire with a mug of special egg nog.
• Noel and Joy by Oh, Starling - Adorable arrangements of traditional Xmas songs, with harmonies.
• Snow Angels by Over The Rhine - These guys sometimes edge perilously close to “smooth jazz,” but holy wassail, Karin Bergquist sure does have a beautiful voice!

UNCLASSIFIABLE

• Christmas in the Heart by Bob Dylan - For the true Dylan fan, or alternatively, for a good laugh.  One NPR reviewer made the observation that Dylan has an uncanny ability to make “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” sound like a threat.  Indeed.