Star of Wonder, Trolley (self-issued)

This Milwaukee-based band contacted us to make sure we knew they were out there with this six-song holiday EP, apparently first released way back in 1997. Despite all the time gone by, they're still worth knowing about, bringing us a fine variety of jangly guitar pop-rock that keys off original Sixties sources like the Beatles and the Byrds by way of later power poppers -- their "Christmas in the Marketplace" has a definite resemblance to Murmur-era R.E.M., for example. They get just a touch of surf music into their "We Three Kings," their original "It's Christmas" keys off early Beatles, and then it's Byrds-to-R.E.M. for "Describe Eternity." They cap things off by power-chording their way through "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Highly recommended. If the Amazon link fails you, check out the listing at CD Baby.