The Holly & The Ivy, Jim Infantino, Jonatha Brooke - Snow Angels - Hear Music Holiday Collection An absolutely beautiful version of one of my favorite Holiday songs. The entire album is a must-have for your collection. (( Preview )) Jingle Bells, Esquivel - Merry Xmas From the Space-Age Bachelor Pad This one was an instant hit in the office, and has become a true classic. If it does not make you smile, you're not human. (( Preview )) Christmas Wrap, The Waitresses - The Best of the Waitresses This one has become a modern Christmas classic, and tells a story many of us can appreciate. (( Preview )) Sans Day Carol/Christ Child Lullabye, Grace Griffith - Snow Angels - Hear Music Holiday Collection Another one from the Hear Music album that I really like. (( Preview )) Snow Miser vs. Heat Miser, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving - The Year Without A Santa Claus My favorite songs from the 1974 TV classic are the Snow Miser and Heat Miser bits. (( Preview ))

Haiti, The Arcade Fire, Funeral Haunting, melodic.(( Preview )) Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse, Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? I am completely unable to classify this music, but I know I like it. I am drawn to the smart lyrics and complex changes.(( Preview )) Homemade Bombs In The Afternoon, A.C. Newman, Matador At Fifteen The Matador label brings yet another great band.(( Preview ))

Mighty Rearranger, Robert Plant And The Strange, Mighty Rearranger Old Zepplin sound with an odd mix of Middle Eastern textures.(( Preview )) Ba Nou Zouk La, Kassav', Té kit Izi I discovered Zouk in the Carribean, and fell in love with Kassav's energy and powerful rythm.(( Preview )) Bongo Bong, Manli Chao, World Playground - A Musical Adventur For Kids The Putumayo label puts out a huge volume of fun music like this, and freeform feeds like Gogaga were all over it.(( Preview )) Little Suzi, Tesla, Mechanical Resonance A classic first introduced to me by sister. The album is named for an admittedly wacky theory by a scientist I idolize.(( Preview )) Chelsea Dagger, The Fratellis, Brits Hits The Album Of The Year I saw this artist clicking around some of the music from the BBC's Doctor Who series, and this sound stood out as a fun, Brit-pop hit.(( Preview )) Allah Uya, Ali Farka Toure, Niafunke I first heard of Ali when Bonnie Rait mentioned his influence on her work at a concert. I really love all his work, which sounds like African rhythms melded with Chicago Blues.(( Preview )) Haiti, The Arcade Fire, Funeral Haunting, melodic.(( Preview )) Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse, Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? I am completely unable to classify this music, but I know I like it. I am drawn to the smart lyrics and complex changes.(( Preview )) Homemade Bombs In The Afternoon, A.C. Newman, Matador At Fifteen The Matador label brings yet another great band.(( Preview ))

Fleur de saison, Emilie Simon, The Flower Book A great album, but admittedly this is my favorite song. Check out the videos as well - some are really unique. (( Preview )) Steal Away, Blackbud, Heartbeat EP Like much of Blackbud's music, this one is reminiscent of driving home alone on a hot summer night. (( Preview )) Young Folks, Peter Bjorn And John, Young Folks Interesting - but listen all the way through a couple times before you decide. (( Preview )) Heretics, Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha The hook line here really brings it home for me. (( Preview )) Hold On, Hold On, Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood A little bit of that Chris Isaak twangy guitar, but with a modern female twist to it. No, I don't really know what that means either - just listen to it. (( Preview ))

You're Famous Baby, Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra - Napoleon Any song that mentions Telsa is OK in my book. (( Preview )) Club Foot, Kasabian - Club Foot - Single Like Stone Roses? You'll love this. (( Preview )) Gonna Be Some Changes Made, Bruce Hornsby - Halcyon Days Nice work from a fellow head. I love his voice and his piano work, and the clever message. (( Preview )) Old And Wise, Alan Parsons Project - Eye In The Sky Moving. Genius. (( Preview )) The Vigil, Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors Aliens. Guitars. Yes! I love the haunting promise of the saviour who themselves is searching to be saved. BÖC at their best. (( Preview ))

Before My Eyes, Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
A haunting melody that really moved me. (( Preview ))

The Night Owls, Little River Band - Greatest Hits
LRB made so much great music, and this may not be the best choice to represent them, but it's still one of my favorites. (( Preview ))

Queen of Hearts, Juice Newton -
Yet another one my dad played on an old LP. I usually despise Country, but this song is an absolute classic. (( Preview ))

Strange Powers, The Magnetic Fields - Holiday
I love these haunting, yet upbeat melodies. (( Preview ))

Freedom Hangs Like Heaven, Iron & Wine - Woman King
A bluesy kind of melody with hints of a deeper meaning. (( Preview ))

Cherry Yo Yo, Babaloo - There is no way you can listen to these guys and not smile. No way. (( Preview )) Ali's Here, Ali Farka Toure - Niafunke I was in a small venue with Bonnie Rait when she mentioned Ali, and I looked up his music. I was hooked, and bought all of it I could find. (( Preview )) Sugarcube, Yo La Tengo - Everything Is Nice: The Matador Records 10th Anniversa.ry Anthology (Disc 2) I heard this trio on GoGaGa Internet Radio before the DMCA killed them and other innovators. Whatever Happened to Gus, Medeski Martin & Wood - Combustication A good friend turned me on to this Jazz group, and this is by far my favorite piece. (( Preview )) All Wrong, Morphine - Cure For Pain A Random guy in a music store turned me on to this incredible sound. (( Preview ))

Canyon Girl, Fruit Bats - Spelled in Bones I love the lyrics to this one. (( Preview )) Arvella's Work Song, Blind Arvella Gray - The Singing Drifter I heard this on NPR actually, and fell in love with it. (( Preview )) Mighty Rearranger, Robert Plant And The Strange - Mighty Rearranger Old Zepplin sound with an odd mix of Middle Eastern textures. Veruca Salt, Danny Elfman - Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Elfman's a genius. I love the new Oompa Loompa songs!

School, Supertramp - Crime of the Century An old favorite of mine and my father's. (( Preview )) Whoever You Are, Geggy Tah - Zero Accidents On The Job: Luaka Bop's 10th Anniversary (Disc 1): Steamy Hits Tell me you haven't experienced this situation. Maximum Sunshine, The Lynnfield Pioneers - Everything Is Nice: The Matador Records 10th Anniversary Anthology (Disc 1) The "Everything Is Nice" compilation is full of great songs, and this is one of my favourites. This one really gets the blood flowing. Bongo Bong, Manli Chao (France) - World Playground - A Musical Adventure For Kids The Putumayo label puts out a huge volume of fun music like this, and freeform feeds like Gogaga were all over it.

I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You, Alan Parsons Project - I Robot How does this guy produce so many different styles of music so successfully? (( Preview )) Lake Shore Drive, Aliotta, Haynes, Jeremiah - Lake Shore Drive Non-Chicagoans will have no idea of the power of the feeling described in this song. (( Preview )) Hallowed Be Thy Name, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Works Volume I - Disc 1 Truly clever and deep lyrics. When the Levee Breaks, Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin [Disc 3] Zeppelin-style Chicago blues at their best. Late in the Evening, Paul Simon - Negotiations and Love Songs A Classic. (( Preview ))