Cool Yule

by Christian SchaefferForget boy bands and Barry Manilow—Christmas music may be the ultimate guilty pleasure. It’s inherently corny, unrepentantly joyful and the tiniest bit reverent—which are all qualities largely reviled by rock ’n’ roll purists. And while you would be forgiven for never wanting to hear “Jingle Bells” ever again, Christmas songs have proven a versatile format for artists in almost every genre, as well as a rite of passage for a certain stripe of singer. The following CDs represent some of highlights of this year’s Christmas crop. There are some new faces, a few old favorites and plenty of reasons to embrace the sound of the season—if only for a few songs.

Let It Snow Baby…Let it ReindeerRelient K (Capitol)

Like fellow Christmas caroler Sufjan Stevens (who gave us last year’s five-disc set Songs for Christmas), Ohio’s Relient K pose a tricky question: When avowed Christians make rock music, is it necessarily Christian rock? This cheekily titled disc (say it out loud) doesn’t give a straight answer. Singer and pianist Matthew Thiessen leads the band through a mix of secular and religious tunes, six of which he penned himself. The original “I Celebrate the Day” sounds like a standard piano-based emo ballad, until it becomes clear that Thiessen is singing to the little baby Jesus. Elsewhere, the band plays up its pop-punk roots, tearing through “I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas” with the fervor of a slicked-up rockabilly combo and turning “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” into a rough-edged thrasher.

I’ll Be Home for ChristmasThe Isley Brothers (DefSoul Classics)

Set the yule log to dim, pour that eggnog into champagne flutes and get ready for some baby-making ’neath the mistletoe: It’s a slow-jam Christmas with Ron and Ernie Isley. As is customary in this stage of their career, the Brothers showcase Ron’s elastic, silken voice, one tailor-made for smooth seduction no matter the season. There are a few missteps here—“I’m in Love” barely qualifies as a holiday song, and Ron pulls out his pimpalicious alter-ego Mr. Biggs for “What Can I Buy You?”—but mostly the program sticks to holiday classics. “Winter Wonderland” starts off the disc with a jazzy bounce, and the “Isley Christmas Medley” is a trio of hushed, reverent carols.

Miss Patti’s ChristmasPatti LaBelle (DefSoul Classics)

Like the Isley Brothers’ collection, Patti LaBelle’s Christmas album was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, although LaBelle favors a more faith-and-family-centered approach. The opener “Christmas Jam” serves as a convocation for togetherness and unity, a theme that runs through all 10 tracks. LaBelle mostly stays away from traditional carols (though she closes the set with “Away in a Manger”); instead, she turns to more modern songs, several of which were penned by Jam and Lewis. “What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?” offers no easy answers, and “Holidays Mean More to Me” looks at the true meaning of Christmas amid slick R&B production.

The KT Tunstall Holiday CollectionKT Tunstall (EMI)

The Scottish singer, best known for her hit “Suddenly I See,” turns out a pretty little mix of rock-centric holiday tunes. Tunstall blends a bit of singer-songwriter self-awareness with a heaping helping of seasonal nonchalance. She nails the Pretenders’ “2000 Miles” and brings a smoky quiver to “Lonely This Christmas.” She proves herself an estimable musician and arranger as well: Tunstall plays everything but the drums on these six songs, moving from guitar to harmonium to penny whistle with aplomb. This collection is worth picking up if only for Tunstall’s duet with Ed Harcourt on the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York,” which retains many of its grandiose folk flourishes. This EP is only available at Target stores.

My Favorite Time of the YearDionne Warwick (Rhino)

Dionne wears a few hats on her first Christmas disc. Depending on the mood, Warwick ranges from a pop-standards crooner to a full-on diva—she even leads a choir through a gospel version of “Joy to the World.” Saxophonist Dave Koz drops in on a few tracks to keep things smooth, such as on an adult-contemporary take on “White Christmas,” and BeBe Winans belts t out on “I Believe in Christmas.” Best of all, Gladys Knight drops in for a duet on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”—but sadly, Stevie and Elton don’t pop up for a “That’s What Friends Are For” reunion. It would have been a Christmas miracle.

It’s Christmas, Of CourseDarlene Love (Shout! Factory)

Darlene Love came to fame through her recording of “(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home” on A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector, an album that many consider to be the definitive rock ’n’ roll holiday comp. It makes sense, then, that she cherry-picks some of the finer modern Christmas songs from the rock genre, and while she can no longer hit those high notes, her voice has matured nicely. While she doesn’t revive her Spector-ized hit, Love gives a rock ’n’ soul reading to songs written by Tom Petty (a jangly “Christmas All Over the World”) and Robbie Robertson (a gospel-flecked “Christmas Must Be Tonight”), among others. Love even gains a few hipster points for turning XTC’s oft-forgotten “Thanks for Christmas” into a sultry soul number.