Psychobilly Christmas, various artists (Cleopatra)

This 2008 compilation pulls together a bunch of bands who play in this style -- think rockabilly, add a heaping helping of the Cramps and maybe season with a little Iggy Pop -- to give us their version of Christmas. It gets off to a misleading start with Rev. Horton Heat's "We Three Kings," which isn't bad but also isn't really all that psycho. The second cut by The Tabaltix, "Don't Believe in Christmas," is more in line with the title, applyling that style to The Sonics' classic tune. Los Gatos Locos take on the Kinks' "Father Christmas," The Coffin Draggers medley "Jingle Bell Rock" into "Jingle Bells," turning the latter into a real thrash-fest. That tempo is picked up again by Bamboula with "I'm Getting Pissed For Christmas," an ode to drinking beer on the holiday. Knock Galley West get into the evil elf mode with "Gunslingin' Santa," The Coffin Caddies celebrate "Halloween on Xmas" (paging Tim Burton), and The Vaudevilles "Shot My Baby For Christmas." An interesting compilation with some good tunes, a few weak ones, and a reasonable intro to psychobilly if you haven't been down that road before.