Top Album Picks Of 2008 - Stylishly Late Or Laziness Embodied, You Be The Judge!

Okay, so I got caught up in reading everyone else's Best of '08 lists and forgot to post my own. Since nobody reads this thing anyway, I figured I'd just give you my opinions now - and I'm not trimming the thing down to 10, either. Luck be damned, we're going for the Top 13!

1. She & Him – Volume 1 – I’ve talked up this band before, but this pairing of the actress (Zooey Deschanel) and the hipster (M Ward) couldn’t be better. A mixture of timeless music, catchy rhythms and sweetly fractured vocals made this an utterly enjoyable album from beginning to end. Radio might’ve played the singles to death, but that doesn’t make “This Is Not A Test” or “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here” any less remarkable.

2. Foxboro Hot Tubs – Stop, Drop and Roll!!! – Yes, it’s the Green Day side project that had the vintage garage rock sound. Yes, a lot of the guitar and beats sound recycled. But the disc was still a ridiculous amount of fun, so stop your nitpicking.

3. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings and All – Thao’s unusual vocal delivery and odd song structures made this one stand out from the pack. And the fact she’s a spitfire on stage doesn’t hurt. Whether singing about a "Bag of Hammers" or water safety ("Swimming Pool"), this offbeat chanteuse had me hooked.

4. Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue – The headmistress for Rilo Kiley does another solo disc, this time without any assistance from The Watson Twins. And it looks like she does just fine on her own. Okay, sure, the backup from Elvis Costello on hit single “Carpetbaggers” certainly wasn’t a hindrance…

5. Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple – An odd coupling indeed, but one of the best musical collaborations we could have hoped for – rapper Cee-Lo and producer/multi-instrumentalist Danger Mouse mix old school funk and soul beats with electronica for a tasty stew. “Run” and “Going On” are the tracks that got beaten into the ground, but the ground was pretty happy about it in the long run.

6. Mindless Self Indulgence – If – (For the full review, check here.) These potty-mouthed, self-deprecating assholes just keep making me love them more. Their mix of punk and techno make their tales of limp penises (“Get It Up”) and Beatles killers (“Mark David Chapman”) oddly danceable. Don’t fight it!

7. Weezer – Weezer (better known as The Red Album) – What can you guess about a band that can release a single entitled “Pork and Beans” and have it become a huge hit? That they’re a bunch of silly-heads who know how to write a great guitar hook? Yeah, that’s a big part of it. But the fact that these alt-pop-punk rock weirdoes are still going strong keeps me (and quite a few Rivers Cuomo-philes) laughing at their wink-and-nod craziness. The fact that they’re experimenting with new songs on their sixth disc just makes them more interesting.

8. Ben Folds – Way To Normal – Okay, there’s the ever-familiar sound of Ben Folds singing while pounding those ivories. But you know what he unpacked this time out? Some new beats. Don’t believe me? Well, if you haven’t already picked up this disc, Exhibit A would be lead single “You Don’t Know Me” (featuring fantastic guest vocals from Regina Spektor) – vocal harmonies compounded by a funky backbeat and, well… great songwriting. Check it out, already!

9. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst – A few years back, I would’ve told you I just didn’t get the attraction of the whole Bright Eyes phenomenon. Yeah, he was some kind of alt-folk- rock prodigy, pumping out the discs, but why should I care? But the more I listened, the more I liked. Suddenly, Oberst’s first solo disc is on my tops list – who knew? But with such an amazing collection of songs – including my fave “I Don’t Want To Die (In A Hospital)” and lead single “Sausalito” – I can no longer deny how dang cool he is...

10. Jesus H. Christ & the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse – Happier Than You – This 8-piece out of New York describe themselves as a “rock/pop/metal/psychedelic/ cabaret” band. However you classify them, though, they are amazingly talented musicians who have an absurdist sense of humor – and the mix blends surprisingly well. Whether singing odes to hot secretaries (“Liz The Hot Receptionist”) or listing off the local drunks (“Alcoholics In My Town”), the male/female vocal duo smashes through every notion you could have about them turning in any serious works – and you’ll love them all the more for it.

11. Flogging Molly – Float – These Irish-American punks conjure up another fantastically bawdy soundtrack to a drunken brawl. Although the subject matter takes a decidedly darker turn, the disc is still one of the most lively of 2008.

12. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals – Cardinology – What the… Only one album from the prolific Adams in 2008? Am I seeing that correctly. Wow. But what a disc, punctuated with the exclamation point of a single like “Fix It”. Now if we could just get Mr. Adams to stop TALKING about consummating his love for the Cardinals by taking his name out of the band title and actually doing it…

13. Metallica – Death Magnetic – Until the disc came out, I had big doubts. Let’s face it, James Hetfield had turned into little more than a heavy metal crooner, making it sound like some kind of horribly themed opera – and that way only leads to crap like Creed, my friends. But Death Magnetic was their way to thumb their nose at their critics and tell us how much they can still rock out with their hoohadilly out.

That's it for now. Care to share your favorites? You know where the comments section is. I'll be back later this week with part 2 of the winter TV premieres. Have fun 'til then!

What's New On Tube - Winter 2009 - Part 1

Hey kids - here's the January releases for new TV by date:

*Means Brand Spanking New Shows

Already Started

*Leverage (TNT) – I’ve gotta say, TNT is really coming into its own with the original dramas. This one is the story of Nate Ford (Timothy Hutton), a man who lived on the right side of the law for so long that he eventually got screwed. Now, he does good things with bad people – a team comprised of a thief, a tech geek, a grifter and… someone who excels at beating the crap out of people. Ford finds jobs where people have been swindled, and the crew find innovative ways to get back what’s been taken from them. The parallels to Robin Hood are obvious, but the blend of humor and wit make this one of TV’s best new shows.

Monday, Jan. 5

Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family) – So, you’re wondering what Molly Ringwald has been up to since the ‘80s? Or maybe what John Schneider has been doing since they killed him off of Smallville? You can find them both in this show, I can tell you that much. This is the “Holy crap, I only had sex once, how-the-hell-am-I-pregnant?!” teen drama, for those of you who haven’t been paying attention.

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Scrubs (ABC) – For those of you paying attention, yes it’s on ABC not NBC. Courtney Cox leads the guest star parade as she takes Bob Kelso’s old job. And it already looks like ABC’s giving this show better treatment than NBC did – they’re actually airing commercials. Wacky!

Nip/Tuck (FX) – What are those nutty plastic surgeons up to these days? I’m betting there’s a lot of blood, shocking sex and spider monkeys involved, that’s for sure. What, no spider monkeys? And I was all set to start watching again, thanks for ruining it for me…

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Damages (FX) – Glenn Close plays a tough lawyer willing to do nearly anything to win a case (do we remember the poochicide, anyone?). She’s finished kicking Ted Danson’s ass, so I wonder who’s up next?

Friday, Jan. 9

Flashpoint (CBS) – I don’t know what’s more unbelievable – that this bland, generic cop drama made it to season two after being a summer fill-in last year, or that TV still hasn’t found a decent post-Veronica Mars vehicle for Enrico Colantoni (Papa Mars himself). Someone must like it, though…

Monk (USA) – Tony Shalhoub’s OCD detecive returns for the tail end of season 7. Enjoy the show while you can – the eighth and final season kicks off its run next summer. While this show has never been at the top of my list, it has remained consistently funny and entertaining. Hopefully in the final batch, they will let Monk solve Trudy’s murder mystery…

Psych (USA) – Following the adventures of Shawn and Gus of the Psych detective agency (Shawn has a photographic memory and hyper-attentive detection skills, making him a great fake psychic) as they solve cases with the police, people have criticized this show for becoming too silly. As I recall, the show bordered on slapstick from the beginning, and if you’re getting laughs keep it up. (Oddly, Shawn has no relation to Patrick Jane on The Mentalist…

Sunday, Jan. 11

24 (Fox) – Oh YEAH! Jack Bauer’s back to kick some terrorist booty in this first night in the 2-day (Monday night is it’s normal home), 4-hour premiere event. In the seventh 24-hour catastrophe in Jack’s world you’ve got to wonder what kind of bad luck he’s got – and if he ever sleeps. (I’m pretty sure this time it’s an Iraqi plot to destroy America with Radioactive Hamsters – without black belts…)

Monday, Jan. 12

Kyle XY (ABC Family) – The further adventure of the boy with no belly button! With Amanda kidnapped after the prom, how will Kyle rescue her from the villainous Latnok group? I guess we’ll have to find out together. And if you haven’t checked out this sci-fi/adventure/ family show because you’re wary of ABC Family’s ability to create original programming, I’m giving this one a huge seal of approval.

Thursday, Jan. 15

*The Beast (A & E) – Fresh out of his recovery from treatment for pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze stars as FBI agent Charles Baker. His offbeat tactics have made him a target for I.A., but that doesn’t stop him from training new partner Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel, of the short-lived Tarzan on the WB).

Friday, Jan. 16

Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi) – One of the finest hours of drama on TV (sci-fi or otherwise) begins its final batch. Producers promise a lot of revelations – and I’m guessing a liberal dosage of the word “frak” (my favorite fake swear-word since “Drokk” from Judge Dredd or “Gorram” from Firefly). This show’s innovative visuals and intricate storytelling will be greatly missed.

Friday Night Lights (NBC) – This show already aired its third season for those of you who have DirecTV, but for the rest of us we start now. And while a shortened season is better than none, I really hope that the loss of Jason Street and “Smash” Williams from series regulars doesn’t impair the team dynamic. From what I’ve heard, though, FNL is still at its best. And don’t despair if you’re not a football fan – most of the drama takes place off the field…

Wednesday, Jan. 21

*Lie to Me (Fox) – Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction, The Incredible Hulk) plays Dr. Cal Lightman, who is a human lie detector. He and his team of behavioral scientists are the Lightman group, and they know when you’re lying, Steve. Yes, you. They know what happened with that ostrich in eighth grade. Just let it out.

Lost (ABC) – Starting with the always-handy recap episode, we then get a two-hour season premiere full of flashbacks, flash-forwards and The Oceanic Six trying to get BACK TO the island. Life is always greener, eh? Prepare to be wowed while scratching your head and screaming “What the frak?!” a lot.

Thursday, Jan. 22

Burn Notice (USA) – Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) received a “Burn Notice” – which, for spies, is essentially a pink slip, but with more identity erasure and shooting. If you haven’t been watching…start. Donovan plays smarmy incredibly well, and the rest of the cast play their parts equally perfectly - including the iconic Bruce Campbell as a freeloader with FBI contacts, the lovely Gabrielle Anwar as a tough gun runner (and Michael’s occasional romantic squeeze) and Sharon Gless as Michael’s wonderfully clichéd Miami mom. Watch…this…show!

Friday, Jan 23

*The Electric Company (PBS) – “Hey you guuuuuuys!” - guess what’s been revamped and is making a comeback? Loved this as a kid, so it’s got a lot to live up to for a new generation… except for the campy Spidey bits. They were always a bit disappointing – I mean, was he a mute? Slightly slow? Poor webhead looked like he needed a helmet…

Monday, Jan. 26

The Closer (TNT) – Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) and her gang are back in TNT’s flagship drama show. Between the cliffhanger from last season (fading to black while Detective Sanchez had been shot and Brenda was ordering him to breathe) and the new promos questioning whether or not Brenda and Fritz’s wedding will end with an “I do”, I can’t wait much longer. So let’s get this party started – thank you so muuuch!

*Trust Me (TNT) – The creators and exec producers of The Closer bring you this tale of the goings-on inside a Chicago advertising agency. Mason (Eric McCormack - Will & Grace) and Conner (Tom Cavanagh - Ed) are best friends – at least until Mason is promoted above Conner. A little brotherly competition never hurt anyone, though. What’s that? Cain and Abel? Oh, right…

For February releases (and beyond), check back soon!

Top 10 Reasons The Mullet Comb-Over Rocked In 2008 – The Metal Albums

Remember the eighties? No, not the folks down at the retirement home, the NINETEEN-80’s. What’s that? Too much blow? Only vague memories of Deloreans, Rubik’s Cubes and hair sprayed up about three feet high? That’s fine – most people have repressed that decade equally well. But one thing that was huge was Heavy Metal (pronounced meht-Al, and accompanied by Devil Horns – which really just looks like Spider-Man’s hand when he’s shooting a web, but upright. For emphasis, bang your head a bit. Yup, you’ve got it.)

And did you know that, at one point, there was a version of the mullet that was not ironic – it’s true, I swear. That’s just how you grew it, and dammit if I didn’t rock that ‘do. And I used to take my mullet out to visit his friends at these meht-AL shows (are you rocking the Devil Horns? I knew it!) all over the great state of Massachusetts. I saw hair bands from across the U.S., and some imports from other lands. Men Criscoed themselves into the tightest denim, and they helped their fair ladies into their Spandex with a shoehorn/crowbar combination. And then we banged our heads in a unison that hasn’t been seen since.

Until now.

Yes, in my search for the best albums of 2008, I stumbled upon an alarming number of new releases from the old hair squad. I mean, I knew about the overhyped ones: Metallica, “Guns’n’Roses” and AC/DC (Mini-reviews, in order: Solid disc, Really, we waited 10 years for this and Holy crap, their songs STILL all sound the same). But the fact that there were enough other CDs out there to populate a Top 10 List – Oh yeah, that’s the stuff!

Devil Horns Held High – The Metal Discs of 2008

1. Judas Priest – Nostradamus – For their 16th studio release, Priest (now with most of the original lineup intact) decided to do their first concept album based on the 16th century prophet. And what good timing - this was the year Nostradamus predicted that a black man would take office and a man with corn rows would get us all a Dr. Pepper. Crazy!
2. Tesla – Forever More – Okay, most people know these guys for their cover of “Signs” ("long-haired freaky people need not apply”), but they were a solid band for the time. This is the band’s 7th studio disc, and the 1st with new guitarist Dave Rude.
3. Motley Crue – Saints of Los Angeles – Yes, the original lineup is together – whoopee! But maybe the record company should have considered the fact that John Corabi (who took over vocals for Vince Neil) wasn’t such a bad fit, and at least the music sounded fresh. The lead single from this disc sounded like they had just thrown “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Dr. Feelgood” in the blender to recycle. Plus, with Neil’s Twinkie intake on the rise, how long will it be before they have to cart him onstage with a forklift?
4. Dokken – Lightning Strikes Again – With only Don Dokken (vocals) and Mick Brown (drums) left, it’s only “Dead man walkin’/Rock group Dokken” (thank you David Spade!) by name. George Lynch (guitarist) was always the big attraction here – and he will be missed…
5. Alice Cooper – Along Came A Spider – The man who taught me that having a crush on a corpse was just fine, back for his 25th studio effort. He “leaked” the plotline to this concept album on his nationally syndicated radio show (“Nights With Alice Cooper”) – it’s the story of a serial killer named Spider who takes a trophy leg from each victim to complete the eight needed to construct his own arachnid. But he falls for victim number 8, and there’s the rub. Guest spots from Slash on guitar and Ozzy on… harmonica (?!) don’t hurt…
6. White Lion – Return Of The Pride – Back in the day, I remember seeing these guys and thinking, “Man if Mike Tramp (lead singer) can’t sing after running from one side of the stage to the other ‘cause he’s out of breath he should either stand still or hit the treadmill”. Really, the only attraction was guitarist Vito Bratta. On this new disc, it’s pretty much the Mike Tramp show – him and a bunch of no-name talent – so guess how much we want to hear this one…
7. Whitesnake – Good To Be Bad – This disc is similar to number 6 – only lead singer David Coverdale remains. No Tawny Kitaen humping the hood of a car, no Vivian Campbell (Dio, Def Leppard) on guitar and no Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy, Quiet Riot) on bass. So, why should we care? Well, the disc is getting decent reviews and some of the best chart positioning they’ve seen since the ‘80s. Huh – I guess I can give devil horns on ONE hand, but the headbanging lays in wait for a decent listen…
8. Def Leppard – Songs From The Sparkle Lounge – You just can’t keep this band down. Even when Rick Allen (drums) lost his arm to an accident on New Year’s Eve in 1984, he came back with a retro-fitted drum kit. When Steve Clark (guitar) died from an overdose in 1991, the boys grieved but continued with the addition of Vivian Campbell (yes, the one from #7). This 10th studio effort carries on their legacy.
9. Sammy Hagar – Cosmic Universal Fashion – Sammy’s pulling out the guest stars on this one – “Loud” features Billy Duffy (Cult), Michael Anthony (Van Halen) and Matt Sorum (Guns’n’Roses, Velvet Revolver) and “Switch On The Light” showcases the man with the beard supreme, the legendary guitar stylings of Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. Oh, and did I mention the cover of The Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right To Party”? A weird choice, but I guess it’s been a staple of his live set for a while…
10. Extreme – Saudades de Rock – What a perfect album title to round out the list – the Portuguese roughly translates to “Nostalgic Yearning For Rock”. I seem to remember a VH1 show where they attempted to reunite these guys for a show, and the main attractions (singer Gary Cherone and guitarist Nuno Bettencort) couldn’t both be convinced. “More Than Words” was the song that made them superstars, but the band grew so sick of that song (which most felt was a poor representation of their signature sound) that it drew a wedge between them. They must have overcome the lingering issues, because this disc features both disgruntled parties and only one subsitution (a new drummer). Unfortunately, not much publicity for their first new disc in 13 years – but the reviews are positive so far…

Ten metal discs – who knew? Are you pumped?! Did you dig out your old fingerless gloves and get a craving for cheap booze in a paper bag? Just remember to be honest with yourself about how you really look before squeezing into the old Spandex, though. See you soon – and Happy New Year!

Why Is Getting Pooped On By A Bird Lucky?

Yes, you read that correctly.

Let me preface the question a bit, and put things in context. I was out shoveling snow in my driveway last night, and to make me more miserable I felt something dripping on my hat. It was far too cold to be ice melting off of the roof. And I heard a gaggle of geese, or maybe a murder of crows, or some kind of dirty birds cawing overhead. Or maybe they were just laughing. "No way", I thought. "It couldn't possibly be."

But, it turns out that it could. And when my girlfriend saw the seed-filled dookie atop my chapeau, she stopped shoveling and said: "Oh, that's good luck!".

Really? And it turns out she wasn't just trying to make me feel better. That's the myth - getting pooped on by a bird brings good fortune. Heck, a blogger from Arizona (My Poptart Tastes Funny...) actually posted a piece about what kind of luck is associated with what birds. I guess it makes as much sense as the rural myth of wishing on a truckload of hay, anyway...

What do you think, dear readers? I just feel dirty.

Take The Buffy Quiz - And Feel As Stupid As I Do!

Okay Buffy fans, I know you think you've got all the answers - so try this quiz on for size. We stumbled across it this weekend (it's on the Parade.com web site), and I came out looking like a chump. But really, who knew that Oz's favorite dog food was Chuck Wagon?

Let me know how you do, kids - and keep track of your correct answers since it doesn't do it for you...

(The quiz might be a "limited-time-only" deal - so if the link doesn't work, they might have taken it down.)

Good Grief, Chuck - It's Christmas!

A Merry Christmas to all! Who's excited about dinner with the in-laws? With any luck, Aunt Madge will be too sauced on cooking sherry to ask if you're trying to break your mother's heart by not having kids or if you're just infertile - that was enough fun last year, right? Plus, cousin Timmy usually does something emergency room worthy, so that should take some pressure off... yup, he's trying to smooch Fluffy (the homicidal kitty) under the mistletoe, so the ambulance should be here within the hour.

Till then, you've got some time to kill - why not try these holiday-themed spectaculars? Just a few things I've seen recently that made me chuckle... or at very least made me happy that it wasn't another Rankin Bass special.

1. A Wish For Wings That Work (Bloom County Christmas) - This one flew (forgive the pun) under the radar when it came out in 1991, and is the only animated tale from Bloom County, home of Opus the Penguin and Bill the Cat. Whether or not you enjoyed the comic strip, the sight of a group therapy circle featuring a pig who thinks he's a rhinoceros should be enough to make you snort Nog out your nose. (YouTube, of course, has it here.)

2. The Big Bang Theory - The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis - This episode of the increasingly charming series featured one of the most hilarious scenes I've ever witnessed. Sheldon (played by the Emmy-worthy Jim Parsons) has become one of the best characters to ever grace the small screen, and his reaction to Penny's gift is tears-streaming funny. (For a look at that final exchange, check YouTube here.)

3. The Pogues (and Kirsty MacColl) - "Fairytale of New York" - An alternative Christmas classic! What's your favorite part? Holidays in the drunk tank? Or Yuletide sentimentality like "You're a bum/You're a punk/You're an old slut on junk"? Oh, or the rotting Irish teeth?! (Whatever your favorite part, check out the vid on YouTube.)

4. A Very Supernatural Christmas (Supernatural, season 3 episode) - Ah, Christmas with the Winchester boys. Candy canes, gingerbread houses and... ah, there it is - the Anti-Santa swooping down the chimney for a festive slaying. From the start of the episode, complete with the classic 1970's swirling neon "SPECIAL" sign straight out of some lousy variety show, this one gave a sly nod-and-a-wink to viewers who were paying attention - including a version of "Silent Night" by Sam & Dean (which, I guess is only truly funny when you know that the lead characters are named Sam and Dean, but now you know...). (YouTube seekers, check here.)

5. Robert Earl Keen - "Merry Christmas From The Family" - Ah, now here's the man who put the fun in dysfunctional. Every gathering should be as amusingly sketchy! (YouTube it here.)

So you say you're drunk and that damn ambulance still isn't there? You may be ready for the bonus round:

6. Star Wars Holiday Special - Ah, nostalgia. This may be the worst thing you'll ever see - but on its 30th anniversary, it may just be time to revisit this piece of space garbage. The worst of all worlds: the 70's variety special (complete with Harvey Korman and Bea Arthur) and the TV/movie crossover. Chewbacca goes home to visit his family, hijinks ensue. The only redeeming quality might have been the Boba Fett cartoon in the middle, but I may have just been hallucinating by that point. (Check it out for yourself on YouTube here.)

Okay, Timmy's trying to take the bandages off and cousin Lily is burning Barbie's hair in the fire - you better go. But have a great one, and I'll have more for you soon. Ho Ho Ho!

Drunk On Nog - Your Christmas Soundtrack

Since Thanksgiving, you’ve been bombarded with Christmas songs that you’ve heard approximately a bazillion times (yes, that’s a precise unit of measure – don’t question it!). If you’re like me, you’re ready to rip your ears off in defiance, but you’ve still got the office party this Friday and the neighbors’ all-inclusive Christmakwanzukkahstice celebration on Saturday. So, what do you do about that pesky music? Juano’s got you covered, never fear. Of course, you may have to knock out the DJ with a giant ornamental candy cane to get these tunes on – but that shouldn’t be a problem, right? Some of these songs are classics, some are humorous ditties and others will get you put on the “Naughty” list for life. But it’s worth that lump of coal – plus, I know some of you have had a spanking on your X-Mas list, so there’s the whole two-birds-one-stoner outlook. Enough buildup, here’s the goodies:

1. “Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues
2. “Christmas” – Blues Traveler
3. “Run, Run Rudolph” – Chuck Berry
4. “There Ain’t No Sanity Clause” – The Damned
5. “Twelve Days Of Christmas” – Bob & Doug McKenzie
6. “Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis” – Tom Waits
7. “Christmas Katie” – Widespread Panic
8. “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy” – David Bowie & Bing Crosby
9. “I Almost Met Santa Claus” – Marc Amendola
10. “Christmas Night of Zombies” - MXPX
11. “Swiss Colony Beef Log” – Eric Cartman (South Park)
12. “Merry Christmas From The Family” – Robert Earl Keen (there’s also a great cover by Jill Sobule)
13. “Christmas In Hollis” – Run DMC
14. “Santa Has A Mullet” – Nerf Herder
15. “Cool Yule” – Louis Armstrong
16. “I’m Having Santa For Christmas” – Lustra
17. “Santa and His Old Lady” – Cheech and Chong
18. “Christmas At The Zoo” – Flaming Lips
19. “My First Christmas As A Woman” – The Vandals
20. “Oi To The World” – No Doubt (Vandals cover)
21 “The Christians and the Pagans” – Dar Williams
22. “Christmas Wrapping” – The Waitresses
23. “Bizarre Christmas Incident” – Ben Folds
24. “My Christmas List” – Simple Plan
25. “Christmas In The Slammer” – The Swallows

You need more holiday tunes? Try these albums for more:

1. Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Christmas
2. You Sleigh Me!
3. Just Say Noel (Geffen Records)
4. Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (South Park)
5. Christmas Caravan – Squirrel Nut Zippers
6. A Christmas Album – Bright Eyes
7. Lump of Coal
8. The Ultimate Christmas Collection - Brian Setzer
9. A Magical Christmas of Magic - Harry and the Potters
10. The Mother of All Flagpole Christmas Albums

Have a blast, kids! Just watch out for your cousin Tony's Eggnog - he makes it with Rum and lighter fluid...