Ahh, Christmas music. Or should I say, "muzak." You've all heard it, the cheesy oft times annoying drivel you hear walking through the mall, or even in coffee shops, that tell us of jingling bells, sleigh rides, dreams about white christmases, and stories of overweight bearded men who seem to know everything about your children. It is ubiquitous this time of year (I should get double points for using *ubiquitous* in a sentence, don't you think?). It cannot be avoided, but it CAN be edited.

It's not that I don't like Christmas, I actually do. I just hate the tinsel and the marketing. Still many people who celebrate Christmas have their own idea of what makes Christmas "Christmas." Most people that celebrate Christmas have that one thing that gives them, as many put it, "that Christmas feeling" (I know, it's the title of a song...still..bear with me here.). For me, it's not Manheim Steamroller's over the top new age inspired music or anything other of that sort, that music only serves to make me feel nauseas. For me, there are precious few Christmas albums that I actually enjoy, and by consequence, own. They are, as follows, and in no particular order;

- Celtic Christmas III
I don't have any of the others in this series, but have heard from people that this is the best, and I am inclined to believe them. It doesn't have modern day traditional songs on it, nor does it have much singing at all, only a bit, and even that is understated. It has old traditional songs like the Wexford Carol, and others. It is well done, and not cheesy like many other Celtic music compilations.

- Cheery, Vol. 1
This is a collection of all those cheesy Christmas carols you remember, only they are done by Ambient artists. This lends a strange twist to many of the old standards, and I like that alot.

- Jethro Tull Christmas Album
I don't actually own this one, but I own alot of other Tull, and recognize the songs listed on this collection. This is winter Tull. Tull, for me, is like a nice tall dark winter ale. Rich in flavor, very strong, and will last you all winter long. A good choice for more non-traditional music.