Punk Goes Christmas, various artists, (Fearless)

Fearless Records is a label specializing in modern punk-pop bands featuring young performers, and they've done a whole series of these "Punk Goes..." theme discs, so here's their latest for 2013, right in our wheelhouse. Covers include Summer Set's poppy version of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," Man Overboard's faithful performance of the Kinks' "Father Christmas," Issues' thrashy attempt at N'Sync's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" and Yellowcard's strong performance of Coldplay's "Christmas Lights." William Beckett takes a contemporary hit radio approach to "Do You Hear What I Hear," the only classic carol on this collection. Originals dominate the playlist, with New Found Glory's "Nothing For Christmas," not the classic novelty but a romantic ballad; All Time Low give us the stomping "Fool's Holiday"; Real Friends sing of a spurned lover at Christmas in "I Had a Heart"; Crown the Empire slow things down with "There Will Be No Christmas"; "All I Can Give You" is "this Christmas song," a piano-led ballad by Jason Lancaster; The Ready Set go more poppy than punk with "I Don't Wanna Spend Another Christmas Without You"; and Set It Off give us the most punk take on the holiday as they sing about a holiday firebug in "This Christmas (I'll Burn It To the Ground)." I'm sure the whole pop-punk thing inspires schoolyard music arguments about authenticity and selling out and such, but all I really care about is where the music meets the ear, and I'm pretty sure rock fans will find at least a few gems among this collection, although hit radio fans will probably like this better.