Christmastide EP, Tori Amos (Decca)

Tori recorded one of those "winter, not Christmas" albums about a decade ago, back when that was a thing, and she's back for 2020 with a short collection of tunes that she says she created with the pandemic in mind as well as the US elections, looking to "be positive and try to lift people's spirits." Stylewise, this is vintage Tori, piano-led ballads with orchestral support. The title song makes an appropriate opening to the playlist, and she also offers the pensive "Circle of Seasons," the electric piano-led "Holly," and what appears to be the favorite cut, the martial-tempo "Better Angels." Plenty of good choices for a change of pace in your holiday playlists.