I always enjoy listening to SiriusXM at this time of year. The Christmas music channels are back, and as Thanksgiving draws closer, it's a pleasure to listen to seasonal and non-seasonal music. Thus, there are a lot of standout tunes today. Among them:
Bluegrass Junction
- Charleston Ramble-Andy Statman (Fast, dexterous fiddle and guitar playing.)
Carolina Shag Radio
- Across The Street-Lenny O'Henry (This reminds me approximately of how Santana might have sounded if they'd started recording three years earlier and had Motown-style backing vocalists. This early '60s track has hints of the vibe Santana established on "Evil Ways.")
Country Christmas
- I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day-Suzy Bogguss (Bogguss's crossover country vocal stylings suit the sorrowful resolve of this carol well.)
- The Man With The Bag-Lee Ann Womack (Womack's upbeat commitment to this tune's spirit makes it the version I've listened to most. As with Suzy Bogguss, Womack's vocals cross over from country to pop easily.)
Holiday Pops
- Once In Royal David's City- Henry Gauntlett (A well-paced, tasteful choral and organ rendition.)
- Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow-The King's Singers (If the vocal enunciation was any crisper, this rendition would sound a bit stilted. Fortunately, it doesn't cross that line. My go-to version of this is Pete Seeger's, as he straddles the line between sounding commanding and avuncular.)
Luna
- Tenderly-Mongo Santamaria (Elegant saxophone, piano, bass, and percussion make this dance number stand up easily to repeated listening.)
North Americana
- All In Good Time-Iron & Wine featuring Fiona Apple (I wish I'd known about this song when it was released last year. It's a well-written, well-sung acknowledgment that some relationships aren't meant to last.)
Real Jazz
- Ask Me Now-Thelonious Monk (This segues well with Monk's "Pannonica.")
Real Jazz Holiday
- Winter Wonderland-Neal Smith (An interesting piano fantasia interpretation with detours into a minor key.)
Siriusly Sinatra
- Ghost Of Yesterday-Nancy Wilson (An elegant rendition of a tune best known to listeners in its Billie Holiday incarnation. This would segue well with various renditions of "Good Morning Heartache.")
SiriusXM Chill
- Sense Of Comfort-Nora En Pure (A graceful glide from a new age intro to a techno beat.)
SiriusXMU
- Common Blue-Warpaint (A downcast yet catchy vibe permeates these direct lyrics about seizing the day by yourself until you feel sociable again.)
SiriusXMU Discovery
- Anywhere-Ratboys (Upbeat indie rock with power pop sensibilities, released in advance of the band's 2026 album, "Singin' To An Empty Chair." Julia Steiner's voice convincingly captures the zeal of someone who wasn't ready to pursue someone but is all in now.)
Sleep Christmas
- Silent Night-Universe Mind (If you haven't heard this version, imagine "Silent Night" played as a lullaby on the piano, and this rendition likely won't surprise you.)
Watercolors
- To The End Of The World-Pat Metheny Group (Metheny's trademark guitar playing against a backdrop that's not far removed from a chill track. Also recommended: "The Girls Next Door," which is an even more atypical Metheny tune.)
