Christ!Mas-ses of new festive albums are about to hit the shelves :)

I was in bed last night (steady!) watching an episode of Gavin & Stacey... it just happened to be the series 2 Christmas episode (with that gut wrenching ending). Well, the first few minutes put me in a proper good mood - you've got Stacey in the midst of the seasonal shopping bustle at Marks & Spencers (Jamie Redknapp looking fine on their new clothing range adverts this year! Ooo and of course Shayne Ward at Next. Sorry. Distraction). Then you've got Smithster and Gavlar singing Do They Know It's Christmas at each other down their phones. Tidy is what it is is what it is, i tells ya. And while I promise to hold off on my annual deluge of Christmas posts til at least Thanksgiving, it did get me fingering my amazon wishlist looking at the upcoming festive releases from some of my favourite stars...

• Mariah Carey ~ Merry Christmas II You: I may be in the minority about being very excited for this Mariah release. Her 1994 Christmas album, Merry Christmas (and it's glorious accompanying single All I Want For Christmas) remains a yuletide staple, and entirely enjoyable 16 years later. I'm optimistic that the vibe of MCIIY will be more in keeping with a cheeky Ally McBeal festive episode rather than a tricked out, pimped up, slapped down ghetto-ho fiasco but it remains to be seen. Contains some classic tunes, new songs (including single Oh Santa) and a remake of All I Want for Christmas Is you (past remixes of this have been dire so I may skip that track altogether!)...(Nov 2nd)
• Annie Lennox ~ A Christmas Cornucopia: She's a bit "worthy" nowadays is our Annie, but that doesn't mean her voice isn't still a compelling listen when it crops up on the radio. She's dabbled with Christmas before (the rousing Put A Little Love In Your Heart and the more sombre reading of Winter Wonderland) and if she can balance that with the chilling icy cool of Love Song For A Vampire then I'm all in (contains interpretations of classics, and one new song "Universal Child"...(Nov 22nd)
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Untitled Christmas Project: Sigh. Mans. He's so dreamy, etc. Anyway, (shake it off their mister) it's rumoured that pop magnificence Mans will have a whole album of Christmas tunes out in Sweden sometime in November. I can't work anything out from his blog because a) i'm too busy gazing at his pictures and b) it's all in Swedish. Though i think there was an outcry over his facial hair. he can give me stubble rash anytime, etc. But he did do a lovely ballad version of the aforementioned mariah classic, so I do trust him with a seasonal song selection...(TBC)
• Indigo Girls ~ Holly Happy Days: Glory be! The Indigo Girls are one of those acts that I perennially love and purchase every release of (see also Dashboard Confessional, Barenaked Ladies), but don't blog about as much as I should. So i'm very pleased to the power of indeed that the lovely duo have their first Christmas album out. Squeal, etc. Not only does it have three brand new tracks (including probable single The Wonder Song), each album comes with holiday decorations. Amazeballs! If there's something as lovely as The Wood Song on there or as ebullient as Gallileo, I'll be a proper happy chappy! (Oct 12th)
• Pink Martini ~ Joy To The World: I do enjoy a bit of Pink Martini (the drink and the group) when i'm in the right mood. The group delve into a rich musical tapestry, laced with ace symphonic leanings and so are perfectly poised to deliver a grandiose festive album. It's mostly traditional tunes with a few surprises in there, but the album cover is like a classy Christmas card and so far away from the normal yuletide trash that adorns these things :) Well done! (Nov 2nd)
• The Broadway Boys ~ Hark!: Not just Hark, but Hark Exclamation Point! I live for the day when someone has the nerve to do a uk group like this (granted, there was Teatro for a while but I really want the group to be called West End Wendys). Quickly following up their theatrical Lullabies of Broadway album from the summer, the boys have musical theatred up some favourite festive faves for your musical enjoyment. It's jazz hands and santa hats at the ready then. I can't wait...(Nov 2nd)

Well do let me know if there are any festive releases you think I should be aware of that I've missed. For the record, some of the big autumn/winter albums I'm looking forward to include Rumer, Shayne Ward, Take That, JLS, The Overtones, A1, Magnus Carlsson and of course EPs from gravitonas, elouise and deedee. hurrah.

Back tomorrow with a europop round up!!