Peace at Last, Hem (Waveland)

In 2006, Sally Ellyson joined with Mike Mills of R.E.M. for a cover of "Jesus Christ," and now for 2007 her band put together a three-song EP with the original title ballad featuring holiday sentiments, a cover of "Somewhere" from "West Side Story," non-holiday of course, and a slow version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The latter also turned up on this year's Starbucks compilation, but as so much of that disc is available elsewhere, you can get this instead of that if you need some holiday Hem. More on the mellow side, but it should be welcomed by the band's fans.