For readers looking for some wonderful holiday music, I'll pass along these two suggestions:
O HOLY NIGHT (Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra, joined by The King's Singers): click here.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (the a cappella group Straight No Chaser): click here.
Other suggestions?
Annie Lennox's Christmas album from last year.
This is from a Jewish guy's perspective, so take it FWIW:
Best popular Xmas songs: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Christmas songs that make me want to reinstitute the Catacombs: Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and any version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, or Frosty the Snowman.
Guilty pleasure: Andy Williams singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."
O Come O Come Emmanuel has always been a favorite. This version by the Georgia Boy's choir gives me chills. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNLUxwTb6QI
Pretty much anything by the King's College Choir, Cambridge. Also, this time of year, every year, Amazon offers free downloads of Christmas songs, some of which are quite good.
I recommend:
He Is Christmas by Take 6
Ella [Fitzgerald] Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas
By the way, if you haven't tried Spotify yet, give yourself a Christmas present and try it.
I have no idea who this young monk is, but his a cappella version of Creator Alme Siderum/Creator of the Stars of Night(in the vernacular) moves me.
Here's the link. I apologize for the double post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fncNCR21_Q