Christmas albums are, by definition, nauseatingly syrupy; witness this season's offerings from artists such as Celine Dion, N'Sync, and Babyface. I guess spreading tidings of great joy isn't necessarily the forte of some of my favorite bands-- let's face it, An Elliott Smith Christmas, while an amusing thought, would not make my seasonal affective disorder any more tolerable. Still, it would at least be interesting to hear Bjork or Yo La Tengo try their hand at a Christmas record.

This year, however, the closest thing to a listenable Christmas album would have to be the Squirrel Nut Zippers' Christmas Caravan. Just as it was with their vaguely disappointing Perennial Favorites, the Zippers are playing it straight, serving up a rather polite collection of originals and covers. Their sly sense of humor only comes through in "Indian Giver" and their Grand- Ole- Opry- style retelling of "Gift of the Magi." And they only really get things cooking in "Carolina Christmas" and their raucous cover of "Sleigh Ride."

On the whole, Christmas Caravan is light fare, the type of music you put on in the background while you decorate the tree. Which is all you really need out of a Christmas album, I guess. Maybe I'm just peeved that the Zippers failed to include "Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer," a secret track from their Sold Out EP. Regardless, as a desperate last- minute gift idea, Christmas Caravan is definitely preferable to whatever Mannheim Steamroller is putting out this season.

-Nick Mirov

"Indian Giver"

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