I need some new Christmas music

I want to make a Christmas music playlist and I need some recommendations. Nothing too old or traditional, but nothing so trendy that it's largely forgettable. I'd like songs that are hip and cool, but not so edgy that they only have a limited audience. I don't have a preference of vocals over instrumentals, but the vocals can't be so boring that you might as well be listening to an instrumental, and the instrumentals would need to be interesting enough that you could add your own vocals by singing along with them. I'm open to all types of artists, but only those that would be appropriate for recording Christmas music. Other than that, I'm pretty open to all suggestions.

• The best Christmas album ever.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Gift_for_You_from_Phil_Spector

• My favorite Christmas song ever.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DOk5rOO2v2dU

• Trans Siberian Orchestra

• Arrival by Sarah Brightman

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DNSGEM_gApD8

• Oh Fuck Off by the Can't Be Bothered is perfect for the OP

• Leon Redbone's "Christmas Island" CD----great!

• Christmas Tree House Fire by The Confining Parameters

• I would like to recommend Tracy Thorne (formerly of Everything but the Girl) and her new Christmas collection. It's on spotify and it's called Tinsel and Light. Let me know if you like it!

• What #8 said--it's been on endless repeat at our house for the past few weeks. "Joy" is really a standout. Hope you like it.

• Classic.

  http://www.amazon.com/That-Holiday-Feeling-Lawrence/dp/B0000DEMAJ

• Beautiful

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D-OBKkmXgXJU

• Sound of Christmas by Ramsey Lewis Trio.

• Pentatonix, an a capella group, has a good Christmas CD.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSUFzC6_fp8

• Here you go.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Drt7-P_bEEko

• I'm normally not into Country & Western music, but the new Christmas album from Scotty McCreery is pretty good. No loud schtick, just comforting Christmas music.

  http://www.silverdisc.com/images/60/602537165773.jpg

• [quote]I'm normally not into Country & Western music Hey, gramps, it hasn't been called "country and western" for 30 years.

• The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack gets played incessantly in my household ... love the melancholy and simplicity of it.

• [quote]Hey, gramps, it hasn't been called "country and western" for 30 years. You are a very immature child.

• Pink martini Christmas album

  http://www.amazon.com/Joy-The-World-Pink-Martini/dp/B0041QSZJM/ref%3Dsr_1_3%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1355676113%26sr%3D8-3%26keywords%3Dpink+martini+cd

• Thanks, R13. I love me some Pentatonix!

• My new favorite Christmas album is the Extended Edition of The Polar Express Soundtrack. It contains new and old Christmas songs.

• I think Michael Buble's Christmas has already become a classic, and is always #1 on iTunes every December. Here's my list of Christmas albums: Merry Christmas With Love - Clay Aiken My Kind of Holiday - Elliott Yamin Carol of the Bells (EP) - Emmy Rossum Come Home for Christmas - Joey McIntyre Noel - Josh Groban The Gift - Susan Boyle The Christmas Album - Glee: The Music A Charlie Brown Christmas Home For Christmas - NSYNC Don't laugh, but Lawrence Welk's Good King Wenceslas always gives me chills. It's a wonderful rendition of the song.

• R22's list reminds me of Norm McDonald's old joke on SNL: "Happy birthday, Jesus! Hope you like crap!"

• R22 is not only elderly, he's a pedo as well.

• So sort of on topic, we were grocery shopping at 7:30am after getting home the previous day from a vacation in Africa just after Thanksgiving. So, slightly disoriented, we went to the Bristol Farms in Weho. They were playing christmas music and Johnny Mathis was on. I grew up on his Christmas album so it always brings back memories. Anyway, we get into the checkout line and there in front of me was Johnny Mathis! So, I went up to him to tell him how surreal it was to be listening to him in the store and then to have him in line in front of us. He was so nice and he just laughed and said "I know". Seems like a really genuine person. Made for a great holiday memory for this year.

• Thanks, (R25) for that story. LOVE Johnny. He's done 6 Christmas albums, which must be a solo performer record.

  It%27s%20A%20Marshmallow%20World%21

• Sarah Mclachlan's Wintersong has become a classic in my house since it's release in 2005. I think she released right after her mother died. There is a sweet melancholy to it that is perfect for a holiday evening alone.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DtuTWA6SBupY

• Chicago (the band) has a couple of great Xmas albums. And they're available in one compilation album now.

  http://chicago.spinshop.com/details/170160%3Fparent_url%3Dhttp://www.chicagotheband.com/

• I depise the Buble Xmas CD. I can tolerate about 3 songs on it and the rest I hate. Bah Humbug!!

• I hate the swing versions of Xmas music too, such as Buble. Not that my taste is any better. I love Midler's Cool Yule album, and some of Kristin Chenoweth's xmas album too. Her version of "Sing" is lovely.

• Edgy Christmas from Miss Lena Horne in her underrated 1966 perfunctory Xmas album. You'll be able to hear how Streisand got her interpretation of this song:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dt-d9eGdwc6E

• Surprisingly Chris Cornell's version of Ave Maria is one of the best one's out there and worth a listen every Christmas.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dmgt18raWo9A

• R22 has the worst taste ever. OP, here's my favorite Christmas song.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUiZRWsIGAY

• Woody Allen Jesus

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D_SFdUJLebzU