There are as many Christmas music traditions as there are stockings hung with with care. For some, the process of awaiting ole St. Nick requires a classic soundtrack, filled with old favorites. For others, something newer makes sense.

A choice, not-so-obvious all-covers album from Philadelphia’s Mondo Topless, starting with a pretty rockin’ version of The Twilighters’ “Nothing Can Bring Me Down.” Elsewhere, an eclectic bunch of garage and rock bands are represented

This album has to be Spencer Davis’ most varied yet: He’s basically talking about his career and/or his life in general, before and after fame hit.

Worried about being running aground in some tropic locale this Christmas season? Something Else! has you covered, with a new list of Yuletide favorites criss-crossing the usual stylistic landscape.

On this particular island, there will be sun and sand — but nary an original artist. Join us, as we query our intrepid panel on its must-have cover songs for their fateful journey.

As Greg Lake continues his celebrated one-man “Songs of a Lifetime” tour through the UK and Italy, I returned to this 2-DVD career retrospective from Image Entertainment/Warner Music Vision.

In a pitched battle for Canuck supremacy, Neil Young edged out Rush by just one mention, as we imagined what being stranded on an island just off the coast of Canada might be like.

This is a collection of three American radio plays called “The Pit And The Pendulum,” “Fugue In C Minor” and “Present Tense” from 1944 and 1957, as broadcast on CBS’ Suspense program.

Stuck on a desert island, you’re going to want to rock every once in a while, right? That’s where this string-bending, axe-swinging, fretboard-melting, amp-blowing list comes in.

What a dynamite single from the lovely Fabienne Delsol. Although it was formatted by Damaged Goods Records as an A and B side release, I view this single as a double A-side. Both songs are that strong.