Holiday harmonies

>> Christmas music from folksy to funky

by GERARD DEE

Picture this: It's Christmas Eve, you're driving home for the holidays and you realize you're almost out of gas. No problem, you spot a truck stop. You walk in to pay for your gas and, they're playing Christmas music. Handel's Messiah? Guess again. It's the Dino Martinis' new Christmas set 50,000 Santa Fans Can't Be Wrong. As everybody's bopping along to holiday tracks like "Twistmas" and "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus," you pay for your gas and get the hell out of there.

OK, so rockabilly X-mas music isn't you're thing, but some people might really get into hearing this Canadian band belt out "Chocolate for Breakfast" on Christmas morning. Anyhow, you're in luck because this season's got something for everyone. For instance, if you're a child of the '60s or a fan of that decade, then Joan Baez's Noel CD might be the ticket for you. Baez is a little more low-key than the Martinis, delivering staples like "Silent Night" and "What Child Is This" in the folksy manner that made her a star.

If Baez is a little too sombre for your holiday mood, then how about some Toni Braxton or Destiny's Child to bring some yuletide spirit? Toni's Snowflakes features holiday classics like "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but she also brings some island heat with Shaggy on "Christmas in Jamaica."

Likewise, Beyoncé and the girls mix it up a bit, offering some standards like "O Holy Night" and "This Christmas" as well as some more bumpin' tracks, like title cut, "8 Days of Christmas" and "A D.C. Christmas Medley."

If you're looking for some middle ground between '60s folk and new millennium groove, and you want something a little more chill than "twist & shout" Christmas music, then maybe Holly Cole's Baby, It's Cold Outside is the disc for you. She gives her contemporary jazz touch to favourites like "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and conjures up images of A Charlie Brown Christmas with her version of "Christmas Time Is Here." I mean, how bad can that be?