Often, the annual holiday tradition that is Christmas music is rooted in nostalgia _ a recycling and an update of the familiar. This year, however, the season's holiday releases are rather broad in scope and genres.
From Georgian singer Katie Melua's offering with Russian and Eastern European elements to R&B crooner R. Kelly's pleasant surprise of a Christmas collection, perhaps the time has never been better to liven up your holiday library.
This year's crop is rated below. Albums are rated on a scale of four stars (excellent), three stars (good), two stars (fair) and one star (poor).
