Received a blizzardy blur of Christmas pop this past week, nearly none of it ironic or snotty. Lots of clever arrangements and efforts to update or honor classic tunes of the season, but nothing pat or snide, as could well be expected from those who wear black and never leave their bedroom recording studios.
AM & Shawn Lee have an EP, Holiday Happiness & Cheer that unwinds like a High Llamas album, with respectful rebuildings of lounge-pop sounds, repeating themes and lush instrumentals of songs you’ve already heard with vocals. Only two tunes to contend with here—two sweet and sweetened versions of the Charlie Brown Christmas opening number Christmas Time is Here, then three versions of the original “I’m Home for the Holidays, stripped down and then stripped down further.

The bands Kisses and Keep Shelly in Athens conspired to create the “Narrow Elevator Christmas Muzak Mix” of eerily squeaky and serene dance music. It’s a full 50 minutes of music—er, muzak—which I’ve blissed out to while typing. More furtive than festive, but sounds like a cold swirly still night in the winter.

I’ve also spent time this week trying to figure out if “Jasper Christmas” by the harmony-vocal quirk ensemble Pearl and the Beard is a Christmas song, or just about a guy with Christmas as a surname. “I don’t wanna stay,” it yowls.