Squawk Radio

Okay, Thanksgiving has come and gone (and I, for one, am especially thankful for having lived through another one). At our house, that means one thing: It's time to break out the box of Holiday CDs.

Yes, we are some of those nauseating people who listen to nothing but Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the house, in the car, wherever the iPod may take us. As a result, we have A TON of Christmas CDs. So that's what I'm going to blog on between now and December 25th. (And no, there won't be a quiz, so feel free to skip the Sunday music blogs between now and then if you're a grumpy humbug.)

First up, Liz Story's "The Gift." This is the loveliest Christmas CD we own, filled with gentle piano renditions of some of my favorite carols, many of which are routinely overlooked on holiday compilations. "Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle," for example. "The Holly and the Ivy." "The Wassail Song." But there are also favorite contemporary classics like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song." And there are some beautiful, classical pieces like "Pange Lingua/A Hymn To The Virgin" and "In The Bleak Midwinter/O Sanctissima."

The entire album is just gorgeous, and it's perfect for those quiet gatherings of friends, or for the holiday dinner, or for fireside eggnog sipping. It also does wonders for calming me down after a full afternoon of last-minute shopping. (On account of, no matter how hard I try, I ALWAYS have last minute shopping.)

Cheers, everyone!