I've a delight in offbeat Christmas songs that has been both reinforced and substantially added to by some friends of mine who perform them as the "Bittersweet Christmas Band." Richard Thompson's (a fine Brit) "We'll Sing Halleluia" is deliciously existential, though there are children in the Chicago area who think this IS a traditional song for Christmas. They are just putting out their second album of odd, funny, sweet, pointed and traditional songs - including some fine originals. (Sing in the Dark of the Year is an especially inclusive Christmas/Solstice/Chanuka song with a spiffy chorus). Well worth a listen.

Some one earlier mentioned Artisan in passing - They've got multiple Christmas albums and a number of songs that were new to me ( in the US) and I dearly love. I've heard that "The Mistletoe Bough" is cliche in some places, but the combination of Victorian sweet and corpse creepy tickled my fancy. Their album "Paper Angels" has some gems, particularly the title song and "Scarlet Raygun"(to the tune of "Scarlet Ribbons").

I also endorse Barton & Para & etc.'s On a Night Like This - all the folks on that album are world class "sing this with me" sorts of people. I especially like "Dark December" as it describes what that month is like here in the Midwest.

Joanne in very cold Cleveland