Mersey Christmas, The Spongetones (self-released)

These guys must really love the holiday. Besides appearing on two well-regarded compilations, Optional Art's Cool Yule and Black Vinyl's Yuletunes, the band sent out holiday-themed novelties to its fan club from time to time, and all those tunes are compiled here for your Christmastime pleasure on this disc from 2002. The best-known tunes here are from the two compilations mentioned above, "Christmas Boy" and "Christmasland." Added to that are a rocked-up "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," "Carol of the Guitars" rather than "Bells," a live "Blue Christmas" complete with Elvis impersonation, a solo guitar "The Christmas Song," the original "Merry After-Christmas" as a duet with a helium-influenced voice, "The Merry Wiped-Out Drummer Boy," the treatment of which should be obvious from its title, a little Tennessee Two action backing the "Killer Wolves" on "Jingle Bells," a version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" done as the whistled theme from "The Andy Griffith Show," and a countrified version of "We'll Have the Brightest Christmas" from "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol." An original ballad, "There's a Star," caps off the CD. The rest is brief goofs and greetings from band members. A fun collection, though the best songs are available elsewhere.