Christmas music is a mixed gift bag. For every genuine gem, there are four overwrought renditions of already-tired classics. The sincerity of holiday albums has been replaced by major labels' desire ...

You’d think that after all these centuries we’ve had our fill of new holiday music. Not quite. New music, for Christmas especially, is as much a part of the season as ugly sweaters and fruitcakes, ...

The time for holiday shopping is upon us! And whether you’re running from store to store or snuggled up on the couch scrolling like the wind, there’s a good chance you’re listening to some holiday ...

Pick of my Christmas discs is this sublime collection from Trio Mediæval on the Norwegian audiophile label 2L, reflecting yuletide’s origins in Northern European pagan culture. Imaginative and ...

The Miró Quartet’s Ginastera disc wowed me earlier this year, so I was keen to hear their Christmas album. Hearth doesn’t disappoint, a collection of 15 mostly traditional carols reimagined for string ...

The other day a man who acted on last year's Rifftides recommendation of Carla Bley's Carla's Christmas Carols let me know that he was disappointed in the album. Indeed, he was offended by it. In the ...

Sebastian Bach is known for his hard-rocking Skid Row hits such as “18 and Life” and “Youth Gone Wild,” solo tunes like the ...

I love Christmas music in many forms. In my home, Christmas albums range from Handel’s “Messiah” to Dr. Demento. A few weeks ago, I was listening to Twisted Sister's Christmas videos on YouTube. It’s ...