Sounding out some new holiday-music CDs

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It starts in about August. My desk begins to fill up with Christmas and sometimes Hanukkah CDs. Three months later, I have a marathon to go through them and feel like the Grinch by the time I'm done. I didn't get the most-talked-about Christmas CD, Bob Dylan's "Christmas In the Heart," but I've heard enough to judge that it's not bad if you like Bob.

The trend this year: Releasing Christmas discs with a DVD of a burning yule log or a cozy Christmas scene to accompany the music (Kenny Chesney, Mariah Carey and Johnny Cash, among them). But there's nothing else quite like "Yule a Go-Go," which features burlesque girls stripping to hot-guitar Christmas songs. THIS spells Christmas for us lonely guys! Here, though, are some of the Christmas releases.

"Comfort & Joy," John Cowan (www.e1enetertainment.com). While most Christmas albums by vocalists are for diehard fans only, Cowan, former vocalist with New Grass Revival, delivers one of the few new discs worthy of being owned by everyone.

"A Family Christmas," Various Artists (Putumayo). This 11-track set brings together songs from some of the best Christmas CDs of the past decade or so, including cuts from Leon Redbone (whose "Christmas Island" remains the best Christmas album since Bing Crosby went to that big orange grove in the sky), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Deana Carter, Sam Bush, Martin Sexton, Brave Combo and Kate Rusby (the last offering the first version of "Here We Come A-Wassailing" that you immediately want to hear again). The whole disc is terrific.

"If On a Winter's Night," Sting (Deutsche Grammophon). An usually deep-voiced and gruff-sounding Sting presents a rather ponderous collection of holiday-themed mostly original songs.

"Gold and Green," Sugarland (Mercury). Country duo Sugarland at least have a happy attitude about the season. Maybe it's a little too peppy, but at least no old men freeze to death.

"Christmas," The Irish Tenors (Razor & Tie). There's something lovably old-fashioned about these big-throated renditions of Christmas songs by classically trained tenors Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Karl Scully. The traditional stuff works best here.

"My Christmas," Andrea Bocelli (Decca). Italian tenor Bocelli is even more operatic. It's generally pretty good, but did Mary J. Blige, Reba McEntire and the Muppets really need to be at this Christmas party?

"Yuletide Beat," Los Straightjackets (www.straightjackets.com). Los Straightjackets' turf is somewhere between surf-guitar giant Dick Dale, guitar army the Ventures and country great Hank Garland. This set is great! There's a Buckaroos-style version of "Jingle Bells" and a version of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" ("Groovy Old Saint Nick") that will make you rethink the song completely.

"Connie Talbot's Holiday Magic," Connie Talbot (Aao Music). Speaking of cute kids, here's a full Christmas album by little 9-year-old Connie Talbot of "Britain's Got Talent." Little Connie has a great voice for a kid, but this album wore me out. Maybe it's the never-ending vibrato.

"Winterbloom: Traditions Rearranged," Duvekot, Heaton, Hutchinson, Zuckerman (www.winterbloom.com). Four singer-songwriters (Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton, Meg Hutchinson and Natalia Zuckerman) combine for this sweet, mostly acoustic collection, which includes the funny and sad breakup song, "Thanks for the Roses (Merry Christmas)." This is one of my favorites this year.

"Eban Schletter's Cosmic Christmas," Eban Schletter (Oglio). Combine Christmas with the original soundtrack of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and you have "Cosmic Christmas." There's some unnerving computer dialogue, a nice appearance by Grant-Lee Phillips and a version of "Silent Night" that becomes a spooky melody. Definitely cosmic -- and weird.

"Channukah Fever," Mama Doni (www.mamadoni.com). What? Only one Hanukkah disc this year? This starts fun, but is nearly maddening before it's over.

"The Ultimate Christmas Collection," Brian Setzer Orchestra (Surfdog). Somehow, former Stray Cat Brian Setzer became the new king of Christmas music. Setzer's take on Christmas consists of revved-up Christmas songs done in jump blues, swing and rockabilly. This fine best-of collection includes a DVD of a Setzer Christmas concert.

"A Holiday to Remember," Audrey Malone and Michael Evans (Grail). This is a nice set that's a little jazzy, a little torchy and just out-there enough to be charming.

"Every Day Is a Holiday," Mary McBride (www.marymcbride.com). Aside from the original song "Christmastime," this 10-track set from soulful singer McBride is only essential if you're already a fan of her work.

"Trio West Plays Holiday Songs, Vol. 2," Trio West (Yummyhouse). Trio West does not play it by the book. Like the group's first Christmas set, this set swings.

"The Spirit of Christmas," Ray Charles (Concord). This re-issue of Charles' classic Christmas disc (featuring Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and flugelhorn) is one of the most welcome discs of the season.

"Echo Glory of Gabrielli," Canadian Brass (Opening Day); "Jazzy Brass for the Holidays" (www.eddieallen.net). Santa has finally delivered something for brass lovers. "Echo" is for the classical crowd. It's stately and beautiful. "Jazzy Brass" is just what the title says -- fun jazz arrangements or traditional Christmas songs for trumpet, trombone and French horn. It's a treat.

(Contact Wayne Bledsoe of the News Sentinel in Knoxville, Tenn., at bledsoew(at)knoxville.com.)