Taste Of Christmas, various artists (Warcon/Fontana)

Some time back I glommed onto a version of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by Street Drum Corps on iTunes, only to discover later that it was the lead cut on this 2005 compilation CD. Starting with that song, it is a perfectly good cover of John Lennon's holiday classic, a song that needs to be heard every Christmas season. Skindred dabbles in dancehall on "Jungle Bells," not the kids' holiday song but one of their own. "Miracle of Christmas" by Funeral For a Friend has a touch of U2 about it, though as done by a cover band, perhaps. Most of the songs are originals, though Roses are Red hammers Wham's "Last Christmas, The Smashup lulls you with a straight acoustic "Coventry Carol," slamming into overdrive halfway through, Amped gets exactly that way on "We Three Kings," and My American Heart throws some electric guitar drone on "The First Noel." Emery's original "The Last Christmas" is a nice change of pace, "No Smiles on Christmas" by Bleed the Dream is your basic hard rock band's ballad, and Plain White T takes us out with the acoustic rocker "Season of a Lifetime." Other bands taking part include The Used, Opiate For the Masses, Like Yesterday, Black Halos and Gatsby's American Dream.