OK, I know that it's mid-February, and we're already a week into Lent, but I'm slow on the uptake, so bear with me. THESE TWO CHRISTMAS ALBUMS ROCK.

1. Barenaked For The Holidays by The Barenaked Ladies. If you know this band at all, you can see how their totally unselfconscious lack of dignity and pervasive sense of humor would create such a marvelous collection as this. I simply can't say enough good things about this. No matter which winter holidy you celebrate, you'll find yourself drawn into these catchy, beautiful songs.

2. Relient Christmas by Relient K. Everything from the covers, straight-up punked up renditions of classics like Angels We Have Heard On High to a cappella harmonies on Auld Lang Syne, to the originals, pure seasonal parody with Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town and tearjerking loneliness on I Hate Xmas Parties, and everything in between, such as the distorted version of The Twelve Days of Xmas (What's a partridge? And what's a pear tree? / Well I don't know so please don't ask me / But I can bet those are terrible gifts to give). This band is a rare example of Christian punk done right. Check it out.

Thank you. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
*insert slow, mournful music here*