The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 50

BEST COPY AVAILABLE ARTSICD REVIEWS THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006 the big picture new music NEWLY RELEASED COMPACT DISCS Instant Classic Wonderful Worth the money Borrow from a friend Don't bother Not if they paid you ratings will be caught up by his infusion of drama, even mystery, into these pieces. The only quibble is with a keyboard attack that at WW" i Homey for I "7 'rr r. This week, Gazette reviewers take a look at some of the holiday releases that have hit stores recently. Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas 'X Asthmatic Kitty It's tempting to recommend this five-EP box of traditional and original yuletide songs with caution, since it suggests as did The Avalanche, this year's Illinois outtakes that the often-brilliant indie-pop darling really needs an editor. But caution gets thrown to the winds as this delightful package of mostly homemade recordings breathes new innocence into Christmas's beauty sadness, cliches, material excess and spirituality (the Christianity here is not soft-pedalled).

Stevens started putting tljese discs together for friends and family in 2001, sending one out every year, except for 2004. And while some of the early material takes sloppiness to punishing extremes, each disc brings dramatic improvement, and songs like Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time! eventually present themselves as potential classics. A joybringer-even for scrooges. BERNARD PERUSSE Aimee Mann One More Drifter in the Snow 1 SuperEgo The only surprising thing about Mann's bid for the Christmas cash is its conventionality Coming from a singer-songwriter who has built a devoted cult by shinning stereotypes and following a highly individual muse, this slow-moving disc is mildly shocking in its lack of ambition. Even so, Mann's waf vulnerable and inviting voice still makes overdone chestnuts like I'll Be Home for Chfistmas, Winter Wonderland and White Christmas go down assmoothly as unspiked egg-nog, so there's no chance of complete disappointment.

Although a duet with Grant-Lee Phillips on You're a Mean One, Mi! Grinch even borders on inspired, the album, sadly, seems declined not to make the cut when the seasonal CDs are exhumed next year. BERNARD PERUSSE rv. mmm A five-EP set gathers holiday songs Sufjan Stevens recorded for friends and family over the years. Some could become classics. briefly II Divo: The Christmas Collection (Sony BMC).

Here's a tip for the dM: Exertion does not equal inspiration. Popera's pretty boys herniate themselves on Holy Night, Ave Maria and we were braced for it sooner or later, but never expected it here Over the Rainbow It's enough to curdle theeggnog. mary lamey '2 David Krakauer: Bubbemeises Lies My Cramma Told Me (Label Bleu). An electrifying and edgy take on traditional klez-mer music by clarinetist David Krakauer, whose speedy delivery yips and yelps through rock-inflected festive pieces, cf Various Artists: Holiday Wishes (Warner Music Canada). This all-Canadian collec A selective look at coming shows.

A indicates Admission (514-790-1245; www.admission.com); indicates Ticketpro (514-908-9090; www.ticketpro.ca); or call the number given or the venue. DECEMBER Tonight Champion et ses G-Strings, Metropolis, Tonight The Dears, Spectrum, $20. (T) Tonight Les Breastfeeders, Cafe Campus, $10. (A) Tomorrow. The Musical Box performs Genesis's Selling England by the Pound, Bell Centre, $41.50 to $51.50.

(A) Tomorrow. Howe Gelb, La Sala Rossa, Tomorrow. Patrick Watson, Ukrainian Federation, $15. (A) Saturday. Matt Dusk, Outremont Theatre, $39.50.

(T) Saturday. Priestess, Le National, $12.50. (A) Saturday. Anonymus, Spectrum, $15. (7) Saturday.

Land ofTalk, Club Lambi, $12. (A) Monday and Tuesday. Children of Bodom, Metropolis, Wednesday. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, La Tulipe, Dec. 28 to 31, Jan.

23, 25, 26, 27 and Feb. 6, 7, 9 and 10. Dumas, Le National, $14.25 ($22.80 Dec. 31). (A) Dec.

30. Les Cowboys Fringants, Bell Centre, $5 to $32. (i; JANUARY Jan. 3. James Brown, Metropolis, $50.

(T) Jan. 4. Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton, OutremontTheatre, $22.50. (T) Jan. 5.

Evanescence, with Stone Sour, Bell Centre, $45. (A) Jan. 6. Lord of the Dance (two shows), Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, Place des Arts, $55 to $75. (A) Jan.

13. Jean-Pierre Ferland, Bell Centre, $69.50 to $94.50. (A) Jan. 13. Reset Club Soda, 10.55.

(7) Jan. 18. Matt Mays, Cabaret du Musee Juste pour lire, $15.50. (A) Jan. 20.

Joel Plaskett, La Sala Rossa, Jan. 23. Supernova, Bell Centre, $59.50 to $79.50. (A) Jan. 27.

Snoop Dogg, with Ice Cube, Bell Centre, $44.50 to $64.50. (A) Jan. 27. Blue October, Metropolis, $17.50. Rescheduled from Nov.

10. (7) Jan. 28. Paco de Lucia, Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, Place des to $61.50. (A) Jan.

28. Cradle of Filth, Metropolis, Jan. 31. JustinTimberlake, with Pink, Bell Centre, $74.50 to $149.50. (A) Jan.31.

Augustana, Le National, $13.50. (A) Jan.31. Michael Brook, La Tulipe, $22.50. (A) FEBRUARY Feb. 5.

Billy Talent, with Rise Against Anti-Rag and Moneen, Bell Centre, $24.50 to $39.50. (A) Feb. 6 to lO.The Arcade Fire, Ukrainian Federation. Sold out Feb. 14.

Eva Avila, Metropolis, $29.50. (7) Feb. 16. Colin James and the Little Big Band, Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, Place des Arts, $32.50 to $42.50. (A) Feb.

19. Barenaked Ladies, Bell Centre, $31.20 to $71.20. (A) Feb. 20. The Blue Nile, Le National, $22.

On sale today at noon. (A) Feb. 21. Gipsy Kings, Bell Centre, $65. (A) Feb.

23. Jonas, Bell Centre, $39.50 to $49.50. (A) Feb. 24. Rod Stewart Bell Centre, $55 to $125.

(A) Feb. 24. Epitaph Tour, featuring I Am Ghost and Matches, Club Lambi, $12.50. (A) Feb. 24.

The Marigolds, Green Room, MARCH March 2. Chantal Kreviazuk, with Raine Maida, Spectrum, $37.50. (7) March 3. Switchfoot, Le National, $21.50. On sale tomorrow at noon.

(A) March 4. Josh Groban, Bell Centre, $49.50 to $125. (A) March 6. Scissor Sisters, Metropolis, March 8. Flogging Molly, Metropolis, $20.

On sale Saturday at noon. (T) March 9. Ariane Moffatt, Olympia Theatre, $25.90. (7) March 14 to 17. Stefie Shock, Club Soda, $26.10.

CD March 18. Isis, Le National, $16.50. On sale tomorrow at noon. (A) March 25. The Roots, Metropolis, $34.50.

On sale Saturday at noon. (7) March 27. RockstarTaste of Chaos tour, featuring the Used, 30 Seconds to Mars, Senses Fail and others, Uniprix Stadium, $35. On sale Saturday at noon. (A) March 28.

Christina Aguilera, with the Pussycat Dolls, Bell Centre, $59.50 to $94.50. (A) March 30. Dennis DeYoung, Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, Place des Arts, $37 to $62. On sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. (A) March 30.

Snow Patrol, with OK Go, Metropolis, $25. (T) March 30.Taking Back Sunday, with Un-deroath and Armor for Sleep, Olympia Theatre, March 30. Le Vent du Nord, La Sala Rossa, $20. 514-524-9225. APRIL April 5.

Nelly Furtado, with Divine Brown and Saukrates, Bell Centre, $39.50 to $49.50. (A) April 10. II Divo, Bell Centre, $49.50 to $125. (A) April 21. Tom Lewis, Green Room, $20.

514-524-9225. April 26. Garnet Rogers. Green Room, April 27 and 28. Lara Fabian, Olympia Theatre, $90.

(T) MAY May 1. Trans Am, La Sala Rossa, $15. 514-284-0122. May 12. Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra, Bell Centre, $69.50 to $89.50.

(A) Christmas V. '44 iS FX SUP'S ASTHMATIC KITTY RECORDS noted tion of previously released songs kicks off with its high point: Ron Sexsmith's brief, but wonderful, Maybe This Christmas. A Barenaked Ladies salute to Hanukkah, a saucy boogie by Colin James and a Lightfoot cover by Sarah McLachlan are among the other highlights of this mixed bag, which you'll find at most Second Cup outlets, bp '2 Various Artists: The Nativity Story Sacred Songs (New LineFontana North Universal). A companion set to the current movie, this thematic compilation of previously released material by Christian pop and middle-of-the-road country artists has a few pleasant tracks. Too many, though, are cringe-worthy mr Jam).

Mos Def. True Magic (Geffen). Nas. Hip Hop Is Dead (Island). The Pack.

Skateboards to Scrapers (Zomba). RBD. Rebels (EMI). Styles P. Time Is Money (Interscope).

Trick Daddy. Back by Thug Demand (Atlantic). Neil Ybung. Living with War: In the Beginning (Warner Time at Home, anew original tune about the joys of being home for the holidays that features her fine vocals and some fine picking from such aces as guitarist Bryan Sutton, banjo player Ron Stewart, fiddler Stuart Duncan and Vincent herself on mandolin. The rest of the disc, though, is devoted to holiday standards.

Some, like Christmas Time's a Comin' and Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, follow the bluegrass rules. Others, including Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and Let It Snow, swing nicely Those tunes, and her rendition of The Christmas Song, suggest Vincent might have a jazz album in her someday MIKE REGENSTREIF Matt Herskowitz Gabriel's Message: Christmas Suite for Piano Tout Crin RecordsFusion III Pianist Matt Herskowitz is one of those gifted instrumentalists trained in the classics who felt the call to individual expression that is the hallmark of jazz. Here, in the second jazz CD under his name, Herskowitz tackles the Christmas repertoire and does some amazing things with the harmonies and dynamics. Though most of the material has been played to death, you I ''i i.ZM&iiX.jL 4 conservative format that can force artists to innovate (admittedly, in minor ways). Aaron Neville does not.

Innovate, that is. However, his collection of classics is lavish in feel and execution at times, there are a dozen backing vocalists, most of them named "Neville," filling out the angels' choir behind the lead Crescent City cherub. Does he charm the winter birds from the trees? Does he have the Xmas balls to take on Der Bin-gle and White Christmas? A generous album in every holiday sense. MARK LEPAGE Lionel Richie Sounds of the Season IslandUniversal It's difficult to remember how huge a star Lionel Richie was, back when the world was dancing on his ceiling. It is just as difficult to dislike the super-humble man now, especially given the parental purgatory he endures thanks to an inexplicably famous daughter.

You imagine that, at this most family-oriented time, Lionel Richie wants to spend 72 hours in solitary, away from the relatives and any TV with CNN. So he's got our goodwill. However, an eight-song album of lite-urbanized favourites, with fixer Chuckii Booker working the strings and knobs, is not going to compete adequately in this market. Next time, break a sweat. 1J MARK LEPAGE Kim Stockwood I Love Santa EMI You have to rummage pretty deep in that bowl of holiday cheese balls to come up with Elvis's Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me, which means Kim Stockwood is either perverse or unapologetic.

Judging by her apparent desire to recreate Christmas circa 1955, let's go with unapologetic. The mambo take on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will make Blitzen head for the hills even before the shambolic kids' chorus enters, but elsewhere including on two originals the nostalgia is contagious. Even though the little-big-band and smooth-jazz arrangements are more classy than corny, Stockwood's smoky voice is put to best use on an unadorned Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and a suitably reverential Silent Night (with her Shaye bandmates, Damh-nait Doyle and Tara MacLean). JORDAN ZIVITZ David Francey Carols for a Christmas Eve Laker Music In a season too often marked by overkill and questionable taste, David Francey offers the aural equivalent of a durable homemade gift. He and pianist Kathryn Briggs have recorded a straight-ahead collection of Christmas favourites, with Francey's honey-lager burr front and centre and Briggs's bright piano right behind.

This is a disc to be sung along with as you trim the tree or write cards, each tune more familiar than the last You'll be enjoying it for years. MARY LAMEY Alex Pangman and Her Alleycats Christmas Gift Real Cone Gal Toronto's vintage jazz-loving chanteuse foxtrots out an assortment of party-ready tunes for the cocktail hour and beyond. She's got champagne bubbles in her voice and a killer band strutting through Jingle Bells, Boogie Woogie Santa Claus and Baby It's Cold Outside (with Tory Cassis). In other words, it's the ideal holiday soundtrack for those whose yuletide behaviour swings between naughty and nice. MARY LAMEY times is overly aggressive.

Most impressive are the title track, based on a traditional Basque melody; an 11-minute development of Frosty the Snowman; and a shimmering rendition of Carol of the Bells from the tune by Ukraine's Mykola Leontc-vych. IRWIN BLOCK Various Artists Ultimate Jazz Christmas Blue NoteEMI Ultimate is a mighty big word to describe covers of ultra-familiar and overplayed tunes, but as compilations go, this collection of 13 previously recorded songs will go quite well with the eggnog. Most are in the pop-jazz vein, easy to listen to, and quite secular. Highlights include vocals by Nat Cole, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls and Norah Jones, and Charles Brown's hip hit Merry Christmas Baby Instru-mentals of note are the Count Basie Orchestra's Jingle Bells, Booker Ervin's White Christmas and the Thad JonesMel Lewis Orchestra's reading of A Child Is Born. Trumpeter Donald Byrd's Christo Redentor, with choir, is as spiritual as it IRWIN BLOCK Luis Miguel Navidades Warner Music Latina Latin pop king Luis Miguel somehow stays romantic in all guises, whether singing about love's sweet longing or Santa's arrival in town.

In Navidades, Miguel uses the same technique to bring his fans a holiday album filled with classics. Seasonal favourites range from Navi-dad, Navidad (Jingle Bells) to Noche de Paz (Silent Night). His expressive tenor voice swoops and soars over a jazzy big-band ensemble, with Brandon Fields on saxophone and Gilberto Castellanos on trombone. ,2 CHARLIE FIDELMAN Soraya Benitez Navidad Bros Records This Christmas CD by Venezuelan-born Quebec writer, composer and singer Soraya Benitez is like a personal Feliz Navidad gift from her touching and lovely Benitez invited a few of her old musical friends, including Victor Simon and Alejandro Rodriguez, to help rearrange or reinvent seasonal favourites, making Navidad an original concoction of folklore, tradition and new songs. Piano, strings, trumpet and children's voices back Benitez's rich, operatic voice at times majestic, as in Ave Maria (her own composition), or joyous in El Bojotico, and tender in Noche de Paz (Silent Night).

CHARLIE FIDELMAN Star of the Magi Suzie LeBlanc, soprano. Daniel Taylor, countertenor. Les Voix Humaines ATMA Early music is sometimes more a state of mind than a discipline. Despite its historical aura, this ATMA re-release is actually a compendium of contemporary settings for a small ensemble including soprano Suzie LeBlanc and countertenor Daniel Taylor, both in agreeably pure voice. Susie Napper, one of the two Montreal viola da gambists making up Les Voix Humaines, crafted most of the arrangements, including a Ding, Dong! Merrily on High for glockenspiel that is no more an authentic piece of Renaissance music than Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride.

Nevertheless, this is a mellow and atmospheric production, good for fireside reading. l2 ARTHUR KAPTAINIS new releases Bootsy Collins Christmas Is 4 Ever Shout! FactorySony BMG Veteran funk bassist Bootsy Collins who has played with James Brown, George Clinton's bands Parliament and Funka-delic, Dee-Lite and even Fatboy Slim puts out a collection of seasonal reworkings including Jingle Belz, Chestnutz, Winter FunkyLand and my favourite, Boot-Off (which tells of "Rudolph the funky-soul all vamped up in a P-Funk style. It's pure novelty too much so at times but come on, it's Bootsy The tongue-in-cheek tone makes up for the stylistic extravagances and missed judgment calls; this is more about the idea than the songs themselves. Features appearances by Bobby Womack, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley and Snoop Dogg. T'CHA DUNLEVY Various Artists Best Christmas 100 EMI As per the title, there are 100 Christmas ditties on this eclectic five-CD compilation, featuring Dean Martin, the Beach Boys, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, BeBe and CeCe Winans, the Choir of St.

Paul's Cathedral, Jeff Beck, Peggy Lee, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Lou Rawls and, yes, the Spice Girls. If not comprehensive, and it's not all good Rebecca St James's cover of John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War Is Over) is downright awful but with so much music, and especially so many older songs, there are some inevitable gems in the bunch. T'CHA DUNLEVY Aaron Neville Christmas Prayer EMI There are currently 399 US. radio stations with all-Xmas-song formats. So the music ain't over until the Fat Man screams.

And now you know why every artist in Christendom eventually wants to take a crack at the San-' ta song loot Xmas music is, Here is a selective list of CDs scheduled to be released on Tuesday. Release dates are subject to change POP ROCK NEW RELEASES Bow Wow. The Price of Fame (Columbia). DJ Clue. The Professional III (Def Jam).

Ghostface Killah. More Fish (Def Dave Cunning Christmas Wee House of Music The Nova Scotia singer-songwriter devotes most of his Christmas collection to enjoyable country and folk versions of standard yuletide carols like It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Holy Night and Silent Night, the latter done as a duet with country singer George Canyon. The real highlights, though, are the two new songs Gunning himself co-wrote. The first is Do You Feel What I Feel, an affecting ballad about home-lessness and isolation during the holiday season. It's a poignant reminder to remember the less fortunate.

The other is Daddy's Beer, an amusing novelty tune about Santa skipping the milk and cookies in favour of the old man's suds. MIKE REGENSTREIF Rhonda Vincent Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection RounderUniversal The perennial winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association award for female vocalist of the year kicks off this collection with Christmas paradoxically, an inescapably i fc.