Christmas Time Again, Smalltown Poets (self-issued)

The Christian rock band just came off a successful Pledge Music campaign to fund this 2014 album, which is actually their second Christmas album. Unsurprisingly, they resolutely ignore anything to do with the holiday that's secular; Festivus fans will have to look elsewhere for their odes to Black Friday or giant outdoor light displays. Leaving that aside, Smalltown Poets qualifies as a full-fledged power pop ensemble -- just go to their original title song, a catchy, crunchy ode to the holiday that's heavy on all the holiday verities. "This Day in Bethlehem" appears to be original, at least I can't find any reference to it anywhere but on this album, and it's a nice "Drummer Boy" inspired holiday dirge. "Patapan" is an antique carol that gets a modern rock treatment, and it looks like "Christmas Lullaby" might be another original, as there are so many songs with that title I couldn't find a match. The rest of the album is more familiar antique carols, highlighted with a boisterous "Wassail Song," an almost U2-like approach to "Angels From the Realms of Glory" and "Wenceslas," an a cappella take on "Children Go Where I Send Thee," and "Merrily On High" makes a modern hoedown of the "Ding Dong" song. A quiet "Cantus Sacrum Nocti" and "Auld Lang Syne" bookend the album. This album is a great way to rock in your season.