Christmas Music In The Air

We don't break out the Christmas music until about two weeks before the big day. And then we listen to it pretty much non-stop until the 26th.

Each year I try to add a couple of good holiday CDs to our collection. This year's big winners skirt the edges of traditional Christmas music. Both of them are highly recommended...

Ranlom's Going On Holiday is an upbeat mix of pop originals and classics, including one of the better arrangements of "Little Drummer Boy" I've ever heard. Ranlom is a group of talented musicians led by singer Matthew Molnar, and the playing and production on this Christmas CD is sparkling. There's a bit of Ben Folds mixed with Harry Connick, Jr., in these seven songs, and that is a very welcome sound after the 19th heavenly choir singing "Silent Night" pops up on the iPod. You can order the disc through CD Baby, or download it instantly at Amazon. Listen to samples at both sites.

The GrooveBarbers' Glory is an a cappella spectacular from some of the best vocalists in the genre, including three former members of Rockapella. One of them, Sean Altman, has one of those voices that I could listen to sing the phone book. On Glory, Sean and the other Barbers cover all the holiday favorites, from "Let It Snow" to "Jingle Bells," with quirky arrangements and impeccable harmonies. This may be the most consistently pleasing Christmas CD in our entire collection. Download Glory at Amazon for just $6.99, where you can also hear samples.

Here's The GrooveBarbers backing up opera singer Inna Dukach in a funny rendition of Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro: