The Most Wonderful Time of the Year … to break out some new Christmas tunes!

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas! We here at CCM want to give you the heads-up on a few of our favorite Christmas albums this year. We made a list and we’re checking it twice—so there’s a little something for everybody!

Longtime Jars of Clay fans will remember their earlier Christmas EP, The Drummer Boy. Finally, 12 years later, the band releases Christmas Songs (Gray Matters), a modern rock album with clever takes on some holiday favorites combined with several brilliant originals. The guys manage to create a sound both charming and fresh through songs such as the instrumental “Evergreen,” anthems “Love Came Down at Christmas” and “Peace Is Here” and the playful “Hibernation Day.” Easily one of the best new Christmas releases of this year—they give the Little Drummer boy something to drum about!

Some artists aren’t content to stop at just one Christmas album—Michael W. Smith’s It’s a Wonderful Christmas (Reunion) is his third. His gift as a composer shines on this collection of originals, arranged by David Hamilton and recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios in London. Smith performs with a 67-piece orchestra and four choirs, all joining forces with lush arrangements reminiscent of a movie soundtrack. He wanted to create an album full of the powerful orchestral sounds of his favorite childhood Christmas albums, and It’s a Wonderful Christmas is just that.

If classical masterpieces aren’t at the top of your list, check out Randy Travis’ Songs of the Season (Word) for a change of pace. From the very first sounds of “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays,” you feel like you’re in for a down-home country Christmas! A collection of sacred and traditional favorites, Travis lends his unmistakable baritone voice to 13 classics, including “Away in Manger,” “O Holy Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow,” among others.

For a more “chill” Christmas album, pull up a chair by the fire on a cold winter night with Christmas ... From the Realms of Glory by Bebo Norman (BEC). As a naturally folk-oriented singer/songwriter, Norman adds his worshipful style to both old and new Christmas favorites, from classics “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Silver Bells” to modern songs “The Rebel Jesus” and “Born to Die.” One standout track is “Christmas Time Is Here,” a catchy, pop-acoustic tune. This is the perfect background music for opening Christmas presents, or ushering in His presence.