A Very Yinzer Christmas, various artists (self-issued)

Unless you're from Southwestern Pennsylvania, you're unlikely to get the title of this 2022 charitable holiday collection. Folks from the Pittsburgh area tend to use "yinz" or "you-uns" for the second person plural pronoun, and those who use these idioms a lot get called "yinzers."  Now that we've dispensed with the linguistics trivia, this collection features a raft of Pittsburgh-area bands performing holiday favorites for the benefit of Band Together Pittsburgh, a non-profit supporting music-based outreach to the autistic community. Things kick off with Gene the Werewolf's version of "All I Want For Christmas," the familiar arrangement but a crunchier performance. Joe Grushecky does "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" in a 70s hard-rock style, Donnie Iris takes the Elvis tack on "Blue Christmas," Pete Hewlett does a solid big-band take on "What Christmas Means to Me," Joey Wodarek Jr. does Tom Petty's "Christmas All Over Again," and Cello does an original hip-hop arrangement of "The Grinch." While most of the collection is solid rock 'n roll, there are some more traditional takes, such as the Clarks' Scott Blasey on "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," Jeff Jimerson on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Bill Deasy on "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)," Johnny Angel and the Halos on "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," Benj Spencer on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and The Skyliners on "Dancin' in the Snow." Meanwhile, Baylee Taylor localizes, and puts a tiny bit of country into, "Home For the Holidays," Patrick Lah and Joe Hnath perform Michael Buble's "Cold December Night," Joe Wodarek takes on Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," and he teams with Stevee Wellons for "Baby It's Cold Outside." We get some blues, too: Miss Freddye throws us some jump blues on "Hey Santa Claus," Norman Nardini plays a stride rhythm on "Merry Christmas Everybody" (not the Slade classic), Abby Abbodanza gives us "Let's Be Naughty," and Clinton Clegg lets rip on "Please Come Home for Christmas." Should also note that the band Totally 80s unexpectedly performs a 70s classic, Elton John's "Step Into  Christmas." There's more, and it's all worth your while. Only available to download directly from the charity.