This Warm December, A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 2, various artists (Brushfire)

This, as you can tell, is the second collection of alt-folk-pop-rockers from Brushfire Records, new for 2011. Led by surfin' singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, this collection benefits 1% For the Planet, which collects money for environmental protection causes. Jack provides two songs this time around, both originals, "In the Morning" and "Angel (Holiday)," the latter a re-do of a previous Johnson original. G.Love is back with two songs, "Christmas Blues," a blues outing with a debt to Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas," and "Christmas Cookies," an uptempo shuffle for those with a sweet tooth. ALO also pays tribute to Brown with its original "Let It Ride," which evokes, without copying, "Merry Christmas Baby." Zach Gill of ALO contributes a solo number, "Party Hard," which is actually pretty sedate for its title. Rogue Wave does a mellow "Jingle Bell Rock" and Bahamas covers the Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight." Zee Avi was on the previous collection and is back with her version of "Frosty the Snowman, which has a minor-key approach that suggests an Eastern European vibe -- interesting choice for a woman born in Malaysia. Paula Fuga offers "Winter Swell Blues," which is as advertised. Money Mark's "Make Time" manages to evoke both Randy Newman and 70s white-boy funk, at least on the intro for the latter influence. Wrapping things up are Matt Costa with "I Bet on Flying High" and Neil Halstead with "Home For the Season." Not quite as good as the first volume, but eminently listenable.