A Christmas Gift For You From Elefant Records, various artists (Elefant)

Well, not exactly a gift, since you have to buy it in hardcopy or download versions from the label, which is based in Spain. This 2012 collection kicks off nicely with Attic Lights' tune "Why Should Christmas Be So Hard," a sentiment increasing numbers of people have been subscribing to lately. It's got a nice production straddling Brian Wilson and Phil Spector, a good opener considering the album title. Guille Milkyway and the Jelly Jamm Sound Orchestra go uptempo with the sprightly "Holding Hands Around the World," The Yearning offer a sweet orchestral ballad, "I Just Wanna Hold Your Hand (On Christmas Day)," The Magic Theatre perform a tribute to "Christmas Lights," The School goes retro with the heavily 60s-sounding "Let Me Be the Fairy On Your Christmas Tree," and they return with another girl-groupy song, "You're Coming Home Tonight." Bells lead the "X-mas Song," an original by Edine Avec Lisle Mitnik Et Son Orchestre, and yes, that's spelled correctly. BMX Bandits sing "Let's Make Christmas Love," which instrumentally recalls Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys but with baritone vocals. The Primitives, which may be that same 80s band I'm thinking of, complain "You Trashed My Christmas," and YouDoMeToo go synth-poppy on "Bells To Ring and Jingle." And since this collection originated via a Spanish label, we have a number of tunes in that language, like "La Luz Del Mundo" by Single, "El Viaje Majico De Santa Claus" by Modular, "Los anillos De Alcyone" by La Casa Azul, "Te Espero En Navidad" by Axolotes Mexicanos, "Donde Todo Sigue Igual" by Band Å Part and, just to throw a spanner in the works, Fitness Forever go Swedish with "Su Sventom Kaledom," although it's an instrumental. It's a great collection, whether hardcopy or download. There may be some vinyl left at the website, but it's supposedly a limited edition. Check out The Yearning's song: