Big Stir Holiday Maxi-Single, various artists (Big Stir)

Big Stir has been busy this season, with two singles previously mentioned here and this further collection of eight songs (short LP or long EP? Definitions, folks!). Great rock-power pop is on offer here, starting with Anton Barbeau's "Xmas Song," a holiday jangle-pop anthem, and going on with San Francisco's The Bobbleheads performing the catchy "Groovy Time of Year," Dolph Chaney remaking a downbeat original of his called "Christmas," Kai Danzberg and Scott McPherson teaming on an almost Bay City Rollers-esque "The Day Before Christmas," and The Decibels mash up "Angels We Have Heard On High" with "Gloria," something that was done in the 80s by the Tryfles on A Midnight Christmas Mess. Nevertheless, it's too good an idea not to resurrect now and then. The Forty Nineteens conjure up an echo of Roy Wood in their song "It's Christmas Time Again," Alison Faith Levy brings us a Hanukkah Alert on the folky "All I Want for Chanukah is a Ukelele," and former Soft Boy/Katrina and the Waves songwriter Kimberley Rew teams with Lee Cave-Berry on the 70s pop-rocker "All I Want Is You For Christmas." As with the other releases, you have to go to Big Stir itself to get this, and you should, especially if power pop is your jam.