The Christmas EP, Mike the Prophet (self-issued)

Mike's a Durham, NC singer-songwriter, and for 2016 he's put together four classic carols and added to it the midtempo original "Outside Like Inside," his own take on the joy and sadness of the holiday. He gives "O Come O Come Emmanuel" a syncopated take, punks up "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," does a short choral take on "Gloria" and puts a Latin spin on "O Christmas Tree." Nice work, get it from NoiseTrade or the usual suspects.