Oh Blue Christmas, A Fine Frenzy (Virgin)

A Fine Frenzy is singer-songwriter Alison Sudol and her band, and while she's been rocking things up with her Bomb In a Birdcage album, this six-song EP -- a Target exclusive in hardcopy but also downloadable from iTunes and Amazon -- is more ethereal and folky, lots of fingerpicked guitar and piano with Alison going to the whisper-sing frequently. The approach is made for "Christmas Time Is Here," while it's a bit of a mold-breaker for "Blue Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland." Alison writes three songs for this project, the more uptempo "Winter White" and the contemplative "Wish You Well," which confronts mixed family feelings, and "Red Ribbon Foxes," which contrasts the things that cost money vs. the things that are priceless. Frenzy fans will want this 2009 disc under the tree, and it's a good introduction to the band as well.