The 12 Discs Of Christmas

From the Blizzard of Holiday CDs: Our Picks, Starting With One From Sufjan Stevens

The most thoughtful, inventive, eclectic -- and generous -- new release is a box set collecting five EPs the indie-pop icon has recorded since 2001 to send out as gifts to his family and friends. Think of it as his take on Phil Spector's classic "A Christmas Gift for You," with 17 of the 42 songs originals, smartly imagined and arranged. The set includes five CDs (more than two hours of music), a 40-page booklet with lyrics and chord charts, an original Christmas essay by novelist Rick Moody, two essays by Stevens and other goodies -- all for the price of a single disc. Arranged chronologically, the discs show the evolution of Stevens's sound from banjo-centered, folk-inspired explorations to adventurous chamber-pop art with string quartets, multitracked chorales and odd instruments gently melded in the tradition of Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. Spry and jolly originals such as "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" and "Get Behind Me, Santa!" vie with the melancholy "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" Yes! Stevens is addicted to exclamation points! Alongside the originals, you get idiosyncratic treatments of traditional fare such as "O Come O Come Emmanuel" (once as a haunting banjo/recorder duet, twice on solo piano). There are misses, and some too-precious moments, and Stevens's often frail vocals may not be to everybody's taste, but the music is often beautiful and sweetly spiritual, less about seasonal commodity than comfort and joy.

Sarah McLachlan, 'Wintersong' (Arista)

McLachlan's first studio album in three years showcases a soothing soprano perfect for sweet or slightly melancholy takes on the season. She kicks off the album by leading a children's choir through John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and offers lovely readings of "River" and "Song for a Winter's Night" by fellow Canadians Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot, respectively. The standards are solid enough, though sometimes a bit too downcast, and McLachlan seems to enjoy odd little twists (such as a needlessly re-melodicized "In the Bleak Mid-Winter"). The title track is the only McLachlan original, a soft-spun, piano-driven rumination on love in the sweet season.

Rhonda Vincent, 'Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection' (Rounder)

The seven-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's vocalist of the year award obviously does best in that idiom, as on Tex Logan's vintage "Christmas Time's a Comin' " and harmony-rich "O Christmas Tree," or the lively banjo-driven "Jingle Bells." Vincent and fellow mandolinist Adam Steffy power up swaying western-swing versions of "Winter Wonderland" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," but she also goes the pop route on several chestnuts, not always convincingly. The one Vincent original, "Christmas Time at Home," is a charmer, and sisters Cheryl White and Sharon White Skaggs join her on a harp-enriched "Away in a Manger" that sounds timeless.

Brad Paisley, 'A Brad Paisley Christmas' (Arista)

The immensely likable West Virginia native showcases his guitar prowess on a spry instrumental romp though "Jingle Bells," and acquits himself well on Buck Owens's classic "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" on an album of standards mixed with classy originals. Three tracks stand out: a 20-year-old audio clip of the 13-year-old Paisley singing his own "Born on Christmas Day" on the radio show "Jamboree USA," which segues into him singing the song today, as well as two lighthearted novelties. "Penguin, James Penguin" is a James Bond parody about using high-tech gear to find out who's been naughty and who's been nice, while "Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday" is an old-fashioned radio skit in which the Kung Pao Buckaroos (Paisley and Grand Ole Opry pals George Jones, Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson) try to deal, unsuccessfully but hilariously, with the use of politically incorrect terminology in holiday songs.

Bette Midler, 'Cool Yule' (Columbia)

This is a seasonal first from the veteran pop singer, who conjures "Bugle Boy"-era insouciance on the title track and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm." Solid orchestral pop accompanies the sentimental standards and Midler gets a little help from the venerable Johnny Mathis on a "Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow" medley. Midler also revisits her biggest hit, "From a Distance," though this "Christmas Version" is barely validated by seasonal garnish, and her longtime residence, Hawaii, gets a nod via "Mele Kalikimaka." The Midler/Mathis duet also appears on Mathis's "Gold: A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration" (Columbia), which draws from the pop smoothie's many holiday albums for the label.

Manhattan Transfer, 'An Acapella Christmas' (Rhino)

As with Take 6 a few years back, this is so natural, you wonder why it took so long for one of the premier vocal ensembles to get around to an a cappella take on the season (their 1992 album had loads of guests). This one features the quartet's typically sophisticated close harmony arrangements -- with occasional vocal percussion and multitracking to suggest a chorale -- on wisely chosen standards, ranging from the playfully elegant "Toyland" and "My Grown-Up Christmas List" to a bluesy "Merry Christmas Baby."

Brian Culbertson, 'A Soulful Christmas' (GRP)

The smooth jazz pianist offers mostly funky romps through familiar holiday fare, as well as a surprisingly ruminative "The First Noel" and a cleverly expansive variation on "Little Drummer Boy." One of the few originals, "All Through the Christmas Night," features guest vocalist Michael McDonald. Culbertson performs a Christmas show at the Birchmere on Tuesday and Wednesday with Bobby Caldwell, Warren Hill, Eric Darius and Ray Parker Jr.

Asleep at the Wheel, 'Santa Loves to Boogie' (Bismeaux)

But Santa also likes to swing, Texas-style, and does so on "Hot Texas Christmas Day" (featuring a booming guest vocal from Dale Watson) and "Santa's on His Way." The steel guitar connection between Texas swing and Hawaiian music is underscored on "Mele Kalikimaka," and Willie Nelson stops in for the umpteenth reprise of his holiday classic "Pretty Paper."

'New Orleans Christmas' (Putumayo)

As spirited and jubilant as you'd expect, particularly the Heritage Hall Jazz Band's propulsive "Silver Bells," James Andrews's ramble on "Christmas in New Orleans" and the New Birth Brass Band's parade strut on "Santa's Second Line." The Dukes of Dixieland celebrate their own tradition on "Holiday Time in New Orleans," while vocal standouts include Ingrid Lucia's sultry take on Louis Armstrong's classic " 'Zat You, Santa Claus?" and Banu Gibson and the New Orleans Hot Jazz's poignant post-Katrina reading of "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

Israel & New Breed, 'A Timeless Christmas' (Integrity Gospel)

Almost unrelenting in its energy and high spirits, this offering by the award-winning praise ensemble from Houston's culturally diverse Lakewood Church may remind some of Sounds of Blackness -- a vigorous choir, sterling soloists and decidedly propulsive arrangements on tracks like leader Israel Houghton's "Everybody Knows" and "Hark" as well as a Marcus Miller-propelled instrumental "Nocturnal Mist." Several guests stand out, notably Marvin Winans on "By Christmas Day" and Houghton's young son on the very funny monologue "Sonny Boy Christmas."

Celtic Woman, 'A Christmas Celebration' (Manhattan)

A missed opportunity for the Celtic ensemble, which seems to obscure its cultural roots in favor of pop-oriented seasonal repertoire lushly underscored by the Irish Film Orchestra. The four singers (the fifth member is a fiddler) are blessed with pristine sopranos, but only occasionally power up for Anuna-like chorales. You'll appreciate the Gaelic versions of "Silent Night" and the airy "Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithil," as well as a glorious "Panis Angelicus" (some things just sound better in Latin), but skip the bonus track, a misguided big-band romp through "Let It Snow."

Bootsy Collins, 'Christmas Is 4 Ever' (Shout Factory)

Funky makeovers of mostly familiar songs, some abusing the letter "z" ("Jingle Belz," "Chestnutz (The Christmas Song)" or offering playfully p-funktory variations ("Winterfunkyland," "Dis-Christmiss" for Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas"). There are four originals, including "Happy Holidaze" and the title track, and the space bassist gets some help from old pals Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley and a bunch of P-Funkateers (with a guest spot from G-funkster Snoop Dogg), so the funk quotient is as high as, well, the musicians' spirits, probably. On the downside, Bootsy's vapid vocals quickly become annoying.

Bootsy Collins, 'Christmas Is 4 Ever' (Shout Factory)

Funky makeovers of mostly familiar songs, some abusing the letter "z" ("Jingle Belz," "Chestnutz (The Christmas Song)" or offering playfully p-funktory variations ("Winterfunkyland," "Dis-Christmiss" for Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas"). There are four originals, including "Happy Holidaze" and the title track, and the space bassist gets some help from old pals Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley and a bunch of P-Funkateers (with a guest spot from G-funkster Snoop Dogg), so the funk quotient is as high as, well, the musicians' spirits, probably. On the downside, Bootsy's vapid vocals quickly become annoying.