I've been listening to the Phil Spector Christmas album that features some of the girl bands from the 60's including the Ronettes. They mostly do classic Christmas songs, except in a "Phil Spector" sort of way. It is excellent.

Oh, and how can I possibly forget Blue Christmas, by Elvis? It is a classic!

Have you even HEARD the Hanson Christmas album (Snowed In)?? It's good!!

I still am pretending that no one I know, who is about to graduate from college, is a Hanson fan. Do not shatter my dreamworld!

I agree pretty much with your list, although I like White Christmas if it's sung well. My favorites include creative and modern instrumental reworkings of familiar carols (Charlie Brown Christmas, Manheim Steamroller, TransSiberian Orchestra), some classics (Carol of the Bells, Hallelujah chorus, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite), and secular songs about hedonism and enjoying the season (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let it Snow, etc.). Oh, and lots of music from classic Christmas movies (You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch, the score of the "Snowman"). And anything funny (ALVIN!!, Adam Sandler's Hannukah songs)

I don't like overly preachy songs (O Come All Ye Faithful), songs that people still sing but don't know why they're associated with the season (I Saw Three Ships, Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella, Good King Wenceslas, Wassail Song, etc.), crappy songs (I'll add Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree and Toyland to the list), and songs about an omnipresent Santa (let's scare small children into behaving). And what could be more annoying than The Twelve Days of Christmas? I guess only The Twelve Days of Christmas sung really slowly by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Fiiiivvveee, gooollldddeennnn riiinnnggsss!!!).

I have absolutely no right to comment here, but what the hell...

My favorite songs from last year were Simple Plan's "Christmas List" and "Ex-Miss" by New Found Glory, but other songs that I only listen to until I get tired of them are "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses (that one gets old after, oh, five plays), "The Twelve Days AFTER Christmas" (aaaand with one single ca-a-a-artridge I shot that blasted pa-a-a-artridge...), and that song by Elton John- "Step into Christmas"? Yeah, that's the one. I start skipping past it after the second time through. My brother can't stand the CD as a whole anymore, probably the reason why he has umpteen Christmas Jazz CDs.

Absolute favorite traditional carol? The Ukranian Bell Carol. It's the most haunting melody in the world if you don't find yourself thinking about "Home Alone". Especially played by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Manheim Steamroller.

You know, I've always associated "Rocking around the Christmas Tree" with "Home Alone," so it has a much different meaning to me than the rest of you, apparently. Every time I hear it I see Daniel Stern putting a nail through his foot, and that's just funny.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra does great stuff, and "Christmas in Sarejevo" is among my favorite Christmas songs ever. But you can't ignore the South Park version of "Carol of the Bells." That's a great seasonal spoof.

As for the classical stuff, I've always liked "We Three Kings." Dunno why.

One other Christmas-song-related thing I forgot to mention is that my parents have exactly one CD of Christmas music (but many many vinyl records, they caught onto this whole "compact disc" thing a bit late) that they play over and over again every single year. On it is a dramatic reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas (accompanied by music) by Robin Williams of all people. It's so horrible I make my parents skip it every time I'm around when it's on.