And now for something completely different…
You want a bit of variety on the Christmas playlist? You got it here. The first one is 15 tunes doe by a bunch of 80s and 90s bands. Menudo does “This Christmas,” Los Lonely Boys bring in an acoustic take fo “Feliz Navidad” and Phantom Planet gives us “Carol Bells.” Teen heartthrob bands also get a chance, with “The 
Christmas Song” being performed by a bright eyed “New Kids on the Block” and “Christmas Time” done by the then-latest thing Backstreet Boys. Do we really have nostalgia for the Clinton Years?
Can head bangers celebrate Jesus’ birth? I guess so, as heave metallers get together here for a slashing good time. Jeff Beck brings a rich “Amazing Grace” (OK, so it’s technically NOT a Christmas song, but hey, this is rock!), and Robin Trower does his Hendrixy best on “ O Little Town of Bethlehem. Then, for you that want to get up and ride the reindeer, have some fun with Joe Satriani on “Silent Night/Holy Night Jam” and Steve Vai grinding out “Christmas Time is Here.” Even Ted Nugent takes some time out of hunting game for a take of “Deck the Halls.” Pump that fist with the Three Wise Men!
If the color of your Christmas stockings is red as in Red Neck, you’ll have a great time with Alabama’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and John Anderson bringing up “Christmas Time.” Brooks and Dunn sound nice and homey on “The CHirstmas Song, and a swinging take of “Jingle Bell Rock” is delivered by the Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Hard to beat Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson getting together for “Pretty Paper” but Patty Loveless comes close on “Christmas Time’s A Comin.” All that’s missing is Rudolph the Red State Reindeer.”
The vocal group Il Divo tap into their inner Josh Groban here with lush and luscious performances. You have a reverential “When A Child Is Born” and the guys have a vibrato as wide as the Grand Canyon on “O Holy Night” and a take of “Ave Maria” that will reach the Catholic in all of us. Lots of strings and productions make this a majestic collection, so who picked “Over The Rainbow” as a song of the Nativity? Didn’t they follow a star? Maybe they were thinking of Noah and the flood.