Records are rated on a scale of one (awful) to five (classic) stars.

It's only 10 days till Christmas Eve, so if you aren't listening to holiday music yet, what are you waiting for? Maybe for this roundup of reviews. Without further ado, here's a full stocking of 2006 Christmas CDs.

Pop/Rock

SARAH MCLACHLAN 'WINTERSONG' (ARISTA)

If you're looking to add one record to the holiday collection this season, this could be the one. The Canadian singer-songwriter, known for her seductively smoky voice and atmospheric arrangements, doesn't simply sing these holiday songs, she caresses them.

This is a moody and artful Christmas collection with all the care and creativity she gives to her proper studio records. She leads the set joined by a choir on an exquisite version of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." No one will ever do Joni Mitchell's "River" better than Joni Mitchell, but McLachlan is a close second. Her phrasing is equally lovely on "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)" and "The First Noel/Mary Mary," which gives way to African percussion.

Along with standards like "Silent Night" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," she adds her own gentle "Wintersong," much in the vein of "River." Far beyond the usual Christmas fare, this record is full of goosebump moments.

-- Scott Mervis, Post-Gazette pop music critic

JAMES TAYLOR 'JAMES TAYLOR AT CHRISTMAS' (COLUMBIA)

Say this about James Taylor: When he does a cover, he doesn't try to fit the song. He makes the song fit him. And that means it goes at his own relaxed pace.

In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to try to sing along with JT on this set of carols. The record is so mellow and casual, he's practically narrating rather tha singing some of these songs, but that warm baritone is as inviting as the fireplace on a frigid night. There isn't much folk-rocking around the Christmas tree. Produced by Dave Grusin, it moves along mostly with piano and light brass and orchestration that's more jazzy than anything. He picks up the pace with "Jingle Bells" delivered as a Little Feat-style funk-blues, a folk-gospel "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and a cozy, rather than sexy duet with Natalie Cole on "Baby, It's Cold Outside." (S.M.)

RACHAEL RAY 'HOW COOL IS THAT CHRISTMAS'? (EPIC)

She doesn't sing. She cooks. On the Food Network. While she's making her Fabulous 5 Minute Fudge Wreath and Christmas Pasta with sausage, veal and ground sirloin (recipes included), she listens to Elvis' "Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)," Jane Monheit's "The Man With the Bag" and that Bowie-Crosby "Little Drummer Boy." She spices things up with Buster Poindexter sounding like the Grinch on "Zat You, Santa Claus?" and Lou Monte sounding a little crazy on "Dominick the Donkey." (S.M.)

BETTE MIDLER 'COOL YULE' (COLUMBIA)

It's not often that the Divine Miss M is accused of lacking personality, but here we go. Although she looks like she's ready for some girlish fun on the

cover, the inside of Midler's holiday collection is surprisingly bland.

"Cool Yule" has a '40s swing feel, but Midler only rises to the occasion a few times. If I didn't know it was her, I wouldn't know it was her. The vocals rarely go beyond pleasant on standard fare like "Merry Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." The best of the batch are the "Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow!" duet with Johnny Mathis, the title track (courtesy of the late Steve Allen) and a playful version of "Mele Kalikimaka," well-suited to this Hawaiian girl. (S.M.)

TWISTED SISTER 'A TWISTED CHRISTMAS' (RAZOR & TIE)

If we were to compare this to another Christmas moment, it would be cousin Eddie cleaning out the RV's latrine in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

What made Dee Snider, Razor & Tie and anyone else involved in this polar express trainwreck think we needed plodding versions of "White Christmas" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" from a hair metal band that people haven't cared about in 20 years? (S.M.)

OTHER POP/ROCK RELEASES:
Bootsy Collins, "Christmas is 4 Ever" (Shout): It's Rudolph the Funky Soul Reindeer and "Winterfunkyland" on this funked-up holiday package from the Parliament/Funkadelic bassist. As for the special guests, he couldn't have found an odder pairing: Snoop Dogg and Charlie Daniels.
Aimee Mann "One More Drifter in the Snow" (SuperEgo): The sultry singer is not the go-to person for Christmas cheer. Here, she purrs standards like "Winter Wonderland" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and surprises with a version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" featuring Grant Lee Phillips.
Sufjan Stevens, "Songs for Christmas" (Asthmatic Kitty). The chamber-pop phenom takes a break from his "50 states" project to issue a boxed set of his five homemade Christmas EPs that have only been available as digital downloads. It comes with short stories by Stevens, an animated music video and comic strip for about $22.
The Klezmatics, "Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah" (Jewish Music Group): The klezmer band dips into the Guthrie archive and puts music to unpublished Hanukkah lyrics.

Country

BRAD PAISLEY 'CHRISTMAS' (ARISTA)

Too often, the holiday albums of the stars are cheesy cash cows or drippy reflections of similar collections the stars cherished before they became famous.

Glen Dale, W.Va.'s Brad Paisley, however, uses the arrival of "Christmas" as an occasion to display his many gifts. While most country stars resort to hired guns in the studio, Paisley celebrates the season with his own world-class honky-tonk guitar picking. Four of the album's 11 songs were cowritten by Paisley, and I promise you everybody will be hearing his up-tempo instrumental take on "Jingle Bells" for holiday seasons to come.

In one original song, Paisley introduces a new Christmas character, a secret agent bird who gathers info for Santa's naughty-or-nice list. Call him "Penguin, James Penguin." And Paisley's cuddly "364 Days to Go" ranks among secular holiday tunes with Mel Torme's classic "The Christmas Song."

"Christmas's" most memorable holiday nugget, however, is a clip from Paisley's first appearance on Wheeling's nationally syndicated radio show "Jamboree USA," in which 13-year-old Brad Paisley dedicates his original song "Born on Christmas Day" to the folks from Glen Dale. On the record, young unknown Paisley shares the duet with, well, country superstar Paisley, who sings a verse and harmonizes with the higher-pitched voice of his younger days.

-- John Hayes, Post-Gazette staff writer

GEORGE STRAIT 'FRESH CUT CHRISTMAS' (HALLMARK)

Country superstar George Strait's fourth holiday album is part of the new wave of exclusively marketed CDs -- it's available only at Hallmark Gold Crown stores with the purchase of three greeting cards. On it, Strait lends his voice to 10 classics including "We Three Kings," "Up on the Housetop" and "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing."

Strait has a great voice -- always has -- and access to some of the best country songs out there. But he's not a writer and rarely adds anything to those great songs besides his voice. That's pretty much what he does here. (J.H.)

OTHER COUNTRY:
"A Classic Christmas," Wynonna (Curb): Wynonna harks back to Christmases of old with "Winter Wonderland," featuring Andrews Sisters-style back-up singers. She also offers sacred fare like "Ave Maria" and "O Holy Night" and has her kids join her for "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Jazz

OLETA ADAMS 'CHRISTMAS TIME WITH OLETA' (KOCH)

Perhaps best known for her 1990 cover of Brenda Russell's "Get Here" which became an unofficial anthem of Gulf War I, the Kansas City-based former background vocalist for Tears for Fears has put together a record chock full of the soul and gospel with a touch of jazz that has typified her career.

Though most of these songs tend toward dark and smoky -- which you certainly don't expect for a Yuletide release -- there's something here for most every taste.

I most appreciate her rendition of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here" -- probably because most people hear it as an instrumental associated with Peanuts cartoons they probably forget that it has words. Not far behind is a dark, dramatic treatment of the Appalachian carol "I Wonder as I Wander," which hints at Brazilian samba. (Oh, and she plays pretty good piano on that as well.)

If you want some jazz, "Winter Wonderland," with a riddling electric piano line from husband and drummer John Cushon; and the big-band style "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" fit the bill.

Adams nods to contemporary Christian music with Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven" and Beth Nielsen Chapman's "There's Still My Joy," Beth McCollum's cello lurking beneath the surface.

-- Rick Nowlin, Post-Gazette staff writer

VARIOUS ARTISTS 'JAZZ YULE LOVE, VOL. II' (MACK AVENUE)

There is a Santa's bagful of goodies here on one of this year's best new holiday jazz releases.

Pittsburgh's young, fast-rising trumpeter Sean Jones stars. He opens with his quartet on an uptempo Jazz Messengers like rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and later teams with marvelous pianist Mulgrew Miller on a near perfect "O Holy Night."

The Gerald Wilson Orchestra delivers freshly modern arrangement of "Jingle Bells," and the Hot Club of Detroit (a contemporary version of the classic 1930s Django Reinhardt-Stephane Grappelli Quintet of the Hot Club of Paris) plays a lovely and lightly swinging "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," plus a really fast romp through the novelty "Chipmunk Song."

Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Oscar Castro-Neves provides a lively, albeit too brief "Air on a Six String" (an adaptation of J.S. Bach's "Air on a G String") and a samba reading of "Dance Natal" (based on Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"). Add a heart-warming Illona Knopfler vocal on "I'll Be Home For Christmas," and the great jazz singer-songwriter Oscar Brown's gospel-tinged and optimistic "Another Year" (a badly needed new song for New Year's) and you get a must-have holiday collection.

-- Bob Protzman for the Post-Gazette

DAVID BERGER AND THE SULTANS OF SWING 'THE HARLEM NUTCRACKER' (SUCH SWEET THUNDER)

A reworking and building upon the famous Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn "The Nutcracker" from 1960 (based, in turn, on Tchaikovsky's beloved, enduring work), David Berger's "The Harlem Nutcracker" is a joyous effort that should be in any Christmas jazz lover's collection.

Composer-arranger and one-time Duke Ellington associate, Berger has written nine songs to go with five from Duke and Stray's classic, and his efforts come close to matching the swinging high spirits and wit of his more famous predecessors.

Though Berger and The Sultans of Swing cannot boast of soloists the stature of the Ellington band's Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, et al, The Sultans are a terrific big band that recalls the Swing Era while also capturing the modern big band sound.

The Ellington-Strayhorn "Nutcracker" rocks, jumps and wails with tunes like the "Overture," "Dance of the Floreadores," "Peanut Brittle Brigade," and "Sugar Rum Cherry."

Berger's best include a brassy bop tune called "Attack of the Ghouls," some honkin' sax and an early R&B feel on "Marquis Shuffle," and the closing romp (with some "slide" piano) titled "Swingin' at the Club Sweets." (B.P.)

VARIOUS ARTISTS 'CHRISTMAS BREAK: RELAXING JAZZ FOR THE HOLIDAYS' (TEL- ARC)

As the title indicates, mostly mellow moods dominate here, estasblished primarily by such noted pianists as Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, and George Shearing, with a song apiece by vocalists Kevin Mahogany, the late Mel Torme, and Jeanie Bryson. The 12 songs are split nearly equally between spiritual and secular, with highlights including Shearing's quintet with vibes on a seldom heard "Donkey Carol," Brubeck's affectingly simple solo rendition of "Silent Night," and a moving interpretation of "Ave Maria" from the flamenco-tinged acoustic guitar of Al DiMeola. (B.P.)

ERIC KUNZEL CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA 'CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE' (TELARC)

The orchestra, adult and children's choirs from Indiana University, and jazz/pop singers such as Ann Hampton Callaway, John Pizzarelli and Tierney Sutton, offer a sleigh full of varied gifts.

The children are wonderful on "Christmastime Is Here" (from the beloved Peanuts gang TV show "A Charlie Brown Christmas"); an arrangement of "Little Drummer Boy" based on Ravel's "Bolero" is pure genius, and the IU "Singing Hoosiers" deliver a rousing medley of carols surrounding "We Need a Little Christmas" from Broadway's "Mame." (B.P.)

RICK GALLAGHER 'SNOWRIDING' (RIDGE TONE)

We may not actually need yet another album of straight-ahead acoustic Christmas jazz, but make a little room for this one from the pianist at Orchard Hill Church in Franklin Park, which over the years has become a haven for many of the Pittsburgh region's best musicians. This is an all-Pittsburgh record, with the personnel comprising bassist Paul Thompson, formerly with the late Maynard Ferguson and Stanley Turrentine; drummer Tom Wendt; and occasionally, Salsamba and Balcony Big Band percussionist George Jones.

The standout is "O Little Town of Bethlehem," where, with the judicious use of chord substitutions, Gallagher literally changes the key of the piece without actually touching the melody. "Joy to the World" takes on a Latin-funk vibe, and "The First Noel" becomes a bossa nova. Thompson adds a pretty solo during the relaxed swinging "Here We Come A-Wassailing."

On the other hand, "Carol of the Bells" does nothing for me, and I would probably have to listen more to the title track, a Gallagher original, to appreciate it. (R.N.)

Classical

HANDEL, 'MESSIAH' CHOIR OF CLARE COLLEGE, FREIBURGER BAROQUE ORCHESTRA, JACOBS (HARMONIA MUNDI)

Stately and patient, conductor Rene Jacobs' "Messiah" is just the sort of thorough and thoughtful realization fans have come to expect of the early-music expert. The tempos are a bit on the slow side, but the score breathes beautifully. In fact, the relaxed pace allows Handel's ingenious word painting to shine through, and also softens the singing of the sopranos at key areas, such as the chorus "He shall purify" (whose over-emphasized high notes usually hurts speakers and ears alike). Jacobs uses the 1750 London version, with two alto soloists -- essentially the Messiah we are used to -- making this a great recording to pick up if you don't yet have a copy of the masterpiece.

-- Andrew Druckenbrod, Post-Gazette classical music critic

HANDEL, 'MESSIAH' CHOIR OF NEW COLLEGE OXFORD, ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC, HIGGINBOTTOM (NAXOS)

Handel's musical genius was matched by his practical business sense. If, while preparing a new performance of the oratorio "Messiah" a certain excellent or popular singer was available, the composer would have no qualms about changing the score to fit that person's range. For a concert in 1751 in London, Handel discovered several excellent boy sopranos and incorporated them for the first time into the work.

This disc recreates that unique "Messiah" and the result is amazing. In the choruses, the boy's treble voices lend the topmost lines a brightness that is clear, bell-like and soft -- never ear-splitting. The soloists are mostly excellent and the Academy of Ancient Music is its regular top-rate self, all guided with verve by Edward Higginbottom. The use of a countertenor here as one of the soloists is less authentic (Handel used either female or boy sopranos). However, if you would like to hear a classic in a different light, try this "Messiah." (A.D.)

CARL TANNER 'HEAR THE ANGEL VOICES' (TIMELESS)

How majestic "O Holy Night" sounds compared to the other Christmas carols. Its melody climbs to a spectacular apex at "Fall on your knees," befitting an opera as much as a church. So it only makes sense that it was one of tenor Carl Tanner's favorite tunes growing up before he knew he would be a singer, and would be included on the now-established vocalist's Christmas CD.

He presents classic carols such as "Joy to the World," "Silent Night" and "The First Noel" with concert works like "Mille Cherubini" and both Bach and Caccini's "Ave Maria." With the Northwest Sinfonia and Choir, this is no weak effort by a tenor going through the motions in a holiday discs; Tanner gives his all, and splendidly so. (A.D.)

ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR, HILLIER 'A NEW JOY' (HARMONIA MUNDI)

Christmas carols came late to the lands of the Orthodox Church, and then were suppressed by the Soviet Union, but the esteemed choral conductor Paul Hillier has found an exquisite collection. Ukrainian and Russian carols, imported from the West, since the Orthodox Church didn't emphasize its "Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord" like Europe did for Christmas, are masterfully sung here by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

Most tracks are unknown, but it's fascinating how the "Carol of the Bells" was transformed into "Song of Good Cheer" with the lyrics "You still have a good-looking wife!" Another diamond is "Bells Rang Early in Jerusalem," also with onomatopoeic bell sounds (real church bells open and end the disc).

The rest of the carols aren't so catchy, but shimmer like the clear moon on a cold winter night. Arvo Part and Peter Tchaikovsky make appearances with works, as well as music by composers oppressed by the USSR, Alexander Kastalsky and Georgiv Izvekov (the premiere recording of his "Christ is Born") in this beautifully sung disc. (A.D.)

ORLANDO CONSORT 'MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS' (HARMONIA MUNDI)

Every holiday season brings out discs that tap the wealth of Christmas and Advent music of the medieval age, however few are so steadfast in plumbing unknown music as this one. The most familiar piece would ap pear to be "Lullay, lullow" -- until you realize it has nothing to do with the well-loved "Lully, Lullay." Organum, conductus, carols and motets from 10th to 16th century Europe receive crisp and euphonious treatment by the vocal quintet here. Gorgeous vocal polyphony, such as "Pastores loquebantur" (Clemens non Papa) and "Nato canunt omnia" (Brumel), shines from a potent combination of tight ensemble and lively phrasing. But the selection is too dense and in serious need of a few more accessible or known works. The album is beautifully sung, but only an early-music buff will be truly interested. (A.D.)

DAVID YOUNG 'A CHRISTMAS I'LL REMEMBER' (UMC)

This New Age disc is the polar opposite of the historical accuracy of the other discs reviewed here. Thoroughly modern in sound and instrumentation, artist David Young and his band's crossover performances are a mix of George Winston, Zamfir, Enya and soft rock.

Energized by electric guitar and drums and peppered with flute and harp, instrumentals such as "Ode to Joy," "Carol of the Bells," Pachabel's Canon in D, "Deck the Halls" and more are louder and fuller than traditionally sung carols. The tradeoff is that the carol's characteristics get watered-down to the same pop style. Of course, that does make for good background music, especially for a Christmas party. If crossover ambience is your bag, this disc will satisfy, although more so in the sleek instrumentals than when Young sings. (A.D.)

VARIOUS ARTISTS 'A SACRED CHRISTMAS' (JADE)

A grab bag of performers and music types and performing styles, this disc is a bit discombobulated. But with styles as diverse as gospel and Gregorian chant, you at least won't get bored. The Monks of Silos and Montserrat, a youth choir, and choirs from Cuba, Argentina and Spain sing hymns, chants and other serious/sacred Christmas music such as "Hodie Christus Natus Est," "Beatus Vir," "Song of the Three Kings," "Adeste fideles" and more. While not spine-tingling, the performing and recording quality are adequate. And when else are you going to hear some of these groups? (A.D.)

VARIOUS ARTISTS 'SIMPLY CHRISTMAS' (SONY)

Simply put, "Simply Christmas" is, well, simply dreadful.

You would think that any CD with famed clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and the Canadian Brass would shine, but their excellent efforts, and those of others, are eviscerated by cheesy keyboards and effects. The disc gives New Age a bad name.

Let this album of works from Handel's "Messiah" and of popular carols be a lesson as to just how bad things can get when you replace a live orchestra. (A.D.)