Jingle Bell Rock

Darlene Love came to fame through her recording of "(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home" on A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, an album that many consider to be the definitive rock and roll holiday comp. It makes sense, then, that she cherry-picks some of the finer modern Christmas songs from the rock genre, and although she can no longer hit those high notes, her voice has matured nicely. She doesn't revive her Spector-ized hit, but Love gives a rock and soul reading to songs written by Tom Petty (a jangly "Christmas All over the World") and Robbie Robertson (a gospel-flecked "Christmas Must Be Tonight"), among others. Love even gains a few hipster points for turning XTC's oft-forgotten "Thanks for Christmas" into a sultry soul number.

Ever since the Ventures proved you can turn surf-rock into holiday gold, guitar-led bands that are long on twang and reverb have taken a swing at Christmas classics. To wit: California-based sextet Davie Allan & the Arrows have turned out their second batch of mostly instrumental tracks, which are full of echo-laden guitar runs and raunchy saxophone eruptions. "Blue Christmas" takes on a sinister edge with Allan's string-bending technique, and the original "A Winter Song" struts with a bit of glam-rock pomp. There's nothing groundbreaking here — but what is Christmas about if not tradition?

Various Artists, Stockings by the Fire (Starbucks Entertainment)

Because Starbucks is more a lifestyle brand than a coffee purveyor, your favorite baristas have again compiled a mix of seasonal tunes that alternate between jazzy swing and seasonal affective disorder. For real — does every comp aimed at hipsters and NPR listeners have to include a version of Joni Mitchell's beautifully depressing "River"? (Apparently so, and here Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae turn in a rather rote version.) Hem's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" will likewise have you contemplating jumping from the Bedford Falls Bridge, but other contemporary artists such as A Fine Frenzy and the Bird & the Bee liven things up. Ella, Frank, and Nat pop up for a bit of classic cheer, and the similarly minded Diana Krall keeps the mood buoyant and suave with "Winter Wonderland."

Various Artists, Classic Soft Rock Christmas (TimeLife)

Sadly the AM Gold-spoofing web sensation Yacht Rock never got around to filming a Christmas webisode; consider this a worthy stand-in. This disc compiles songs from genre-defining lite-rockers Kenny Loggins (singing a buzz-killing "The Bells of Christmas") and Hall & Oates, who offer their faithful reading of "Jingle Bell Rock." Air Supply goes for broke on a massive and orchestral "The First Noel," while Jim Croce gets wistful with "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way." The fellows in America earn their wings for turning their evergreen "Tin Man" into "White Christmas" (though I bet that if you tried, you could repurpose "Horse with No Name" into "The Twelve Days of Christmas").

Various Artists, Peace on Earth: A Charity Holiday Album (Hardtofindafriend.com)

Some of the sleepiest, shaggiest bands in indie rock get into the holiday spirit with this album, which collects 18 mostly original tracks from acts such as Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla and Springfield, Missouri's Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Rather than rehash Christmas carols, many of these bands take inspiration from the varying moods of the holiday season, from hope and peace to longing and loneliness. The Long Winters sing of the plight of the working man on "Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)," and the Great Lake Swimmers sound uncharacteristically upbeat on "Gonna Make It Through This Year." This comp is curated by the music blog Hard to Find a Friend and is available by download only, with all of the proceeds going to the Toys for Tots program.