
This time of year is always tough on the ears of music lovers. We're assaulted with a nonstop barrage of hackneyed holiday standards, irritating seasonal "satire," and a ceaseless stream of sad attempts at making Christmas music cool. Well, you need keep your head buried beneath a sound-absorbent pile of used Santa suits no longer, because we've mapped out a tune-a-day plan for you to keep a song in your heart throughout the 12 days of Christmas without having a coronary. Just don't expect any dewy-eyed odes to tinsel and mistletoe in this sonic Christmas stocking. [...]