So much of the Christmas season, for me, is all about the music. I have no problems with you if you want to start your Christmas celebrations a little early. After Halloween seems excessive. After Thanksgiving is fair game. Then let’s bring on the real Christmas songs and the fake ones, too. I don’t discriminate. From Dec 16-31, it’s all Christmas music playing on Mental Jukebox.

A slowed down version of this Christmas music standard seems right up Chan Marshall’s alley. Somber, reflective, understated vocals float like thick snowflakes across a wintry landscape of stark, echoey piano chords. Sounds just like another Cat Power song, right? Sinatra, Buble and Judy Garland may all have more popular versions of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, but Marshall made the song more personal and intimate, like a heartfelt letter written to a loved one.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light From now on. Our troubles will be out of sight.”