A highly arbitrary list, mixing old and new that are on my computer, in my car and in my headphones this Xmas... The fruit of many hours skipping through the discard bins at record stores, paging through Amazon's mp3 lists, and bugging friends for songs...

10. Tom Waits - Sight for Sore Eyes

A classic by a classic, opening with a piano tinkling out Auld Lang Syne and becoming a bittersweet story of an old drunk drinking hard and reminiscing about lost friends and days gone by...

9. The Pogues - Fairytale of New York

Ohmigod no Christmas is complete until I have heard these Christmas bells ringing out at least a dozen times. Christmas in the drunk tank, indeed.

8. Fairport Convention - Now Be Thankful

Cool yule tune by the old hippie-folkies who did it best.

7. Sufjan Stevens - Sister Winter

Sufjan is so incredibly prolific that he can be excused for putting out a lot of chaff with the occasional grain of pure scintillating beauty. I could listen to this song play over and over again all night.

6. Love Tractor - Jangle Bells

I remember fondly seeing these guys about 20 years ago. I discovered this song just a couple of weeks ago and it has soared to the top of my playlist. Love that jingle jangle!

5. Brandston - Christmas in Ohio

I know nothing about this band but I'm from Ohio and I get sad thinking of the friends I've known and lost from that misbegotten state... This sad song works perfectly when you're a little down on the season.

4. Minus 5 - Your Chirstmas Whiskey

These old hippies are like gods among men. Yes, any Christmas song they have must be on the list!

3. Clumsy - Roamin' Holiday

The spirit of the Replacement rekindled in this sweet indie guitar-ist effort.

2. Blitsen Trapper - Christmas is Coming Soon

Not just one of the best new bands, kinda overshadowed by regional mates Death Cab and Band of Horses, Blitzen Trapper is a lot of fun, despite the live tendency to get a bit too jam-bandy. Good to see they have the spirit!

1, Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)

No Christmas would be complete without the leather-clad quartet.