Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Just Another Christmas Song / Big Bulbs

Though the postmodern lyrical tilt of this soulful romp into yuletide carols by Daptone heavyweights won't be lost on our more discerning listener, the sincerity of the band's delivery is unquestionably without irony. Somehow Jones is able to acknowledge the clichéd din of shopping mall chrismas Muzac, and at the same time transcend it to tug gently upon that lone innocent heartstring which still clings to the magic of St. Nick's Snowy Festivities. Perhaps it is "just another christmas song," but with a groove like this it's hard to say we don't need it.

On the flip, Saundra Williams (of rising Saun & Starr fame) has penned a playful little diddy. She shoulders up with her old friends Sharon and Starr to knock it out Andrews Sister style in an impromptu holiday session at the House of Soul. It's a great holiday record for the whole family! (Saundra has sworm up and down repeatedly that any entendre in Big Bulbs was completely unintended.)