Inspired by Dr. J’s 12 Days of Christmas Music, Confucius says: here’s twelve albums of Christmas music from the past dozen or so years that are worth your while (and money). Of course, this will only bring us to the twenty-fourth, so you’re on your own for the actual Twelve Days of Christmas unless we get any more bright ideas. That said, we figure you’ll probably want to be left alone to deal with all the treed fowl, leaping lords, etc., that tend to fill up that period.

John Denver & the Muppets — A Christmas Together

Confucius is nostalgic. Sue him. But buy this album first, if you have kids.

It’s got the strange (and doubly defunct) combination of Jim Henson’s and John Denver’s musical sensibilities. It’s unironic, hokey, and holds up in its own little timeless world.

It’s not the best Christmas music you’ll hear, but if you’re of Generation X, it’s probably the music that’ll be running through your head when you’re 90. Sing it with me… Five! Go-old! Rings! BA-DUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP! Four calling birds…

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.