The McGarrigle Christmas Hour, Kate and Anna McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

I'd been a bit wary of this 2005 release, as too-authentic folk and sacred music take us too far away from our strengths here at Mistletunes. This despite the presence of Rufus and Martha Wainwright and Teddy Thompson, though Martha does bring along a bit of rock 'n roll here, her own "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." She also shares the lead vocal on a poppy version of Jackson Browne's "Rebel Jesus." Rufus' "Spotlight on Christmas" is another mid-tempo rocker, but the rest will go down much better among folks who treasure the antique touches at Christmas. As you might have noticed elsewhere on the site, Rufus and Martha's songs are available on other holiday compilations, notably the Nettwerk ones.