I love Christmas music and I try to listen to a wide variety of it.
For folksie versions of classics I like Sufjan Stevens Song for Christmas
For a various artist one I like Holidays Rule. Especially May Ev'y Day Be Christmas by Irma Thomas
I also like This Warm December vol 2. Actually this whole cd is all non-standard Christmas tunes. Favorite alternative tracks on there are Jack Johnson's In The Morning, G. Love's Christmas Cookies, The Bahamas' Christmas Must Be Tonight
I also like the Bare Naked Ladies' Barenaked Holiday which also includes some Hanukah songs. My favorite non-standard on there is Footprints
Ack. This made me want to go look up a lot of my favorites. If anyone wants more links, just let me know.
Check out Sufjan Steven's Christmas albums, they're pretty solid. http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Christmas-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B000HLDF0O
Sufjan Stevens christmas album. Amazing singer/songwriter, five full length discs of music for $14, original as well as classic songs. What more could you want?
I find Sufjan Stevens's Christmas album to be a pretty pleasant listen when Xmas music would be most appropriate.