The Sled Is Loaded With Seasonal Albums

There’s a benefit album to suit practically every taste this year, while the non-benefit efforts run from the sublime (the Burns Sisters) to the ridiculous (RuPaul).

Definitely open before Christmas.

*** 1/2 THE BURNS SISTERS, “Tradition,” Rounder. Folkies Jeannie, Annie and Marie Burns serve up a sterling example of how to put a fresh spin on even so familiar a genre as holiday albums. They’ve brought together beautifully honest performances, not just of traditional Western European carols, but also of an African American spiritual, an arrangement of a 13th century Persian poem, and Israeli and Tibetan prayers for peace. A loving testament to the universal aspect of the season of peace and brotherhood.

*** VARIOUS ARTISTS, “A Home for the Holidays,” Hammer/Face-Mercury. The 17 performances, mostly adult-contemporary pop and rock, on this fund-raiser for the Phoenix House drug abuse services agency range from solid to inspired. At the top are neo-folkie Dar Williams’ haunting “What Child Is This,” Marshall Crenshaw’s breezy “Sock It to Me Santa” and Joan Osborne’s rave-up gospel turn on “Go Where I Send Thee.”

*** THE PERSUASIONS, “You’re All I Want for Christmas,” Bullseye Blues. The veteran group’s a cappella treatments bring a visceral richness to these 14 tunes. They’re all fun, but the best are those that tap the group’s gospel roots and its street-corner foundation, which comes roaring through on a scorching version of “Hey, Santa Claus.”

** VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Merry Axemas--A Guitar Christmas,” Epic. It’s more a testament to the songs’ strength than the individual performances how well these carols can stand up even to amped-up renditions like Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Eric Johnson is nicely subdued in “The First Noel,” but all in all it’s for people who like their music cranked to 11.

*** 1/2 DWIGHT YOAKAM, “Come On Christmas,” Reprise. This is not only one of the most consistently enthralling holiday releases of the year, but it’s also one of the maverick country singer’s best. That’s because he allows equal time to his R&B;, blues and soul leanings as to his roots-country foundation. Totally inspired.

** 1/2 RuPAUL, “Ho Ho Ho,” Rhino. Yes, the world’s most famous transvestite is in the holiday spirit. The trash-talk is about what you’d expect (“RuPaul the Red-Nosed Drag Queen”). But there are a few straightforward moments too. Even so, it’s not for the faint of heart nor orthodox of spirit.

** WILLIE NELSON, “Hill Country Christmas,” Finer Arts. There’s an off-the-cuff, even slap-dash feel to Nelson’s first Christmas album in 18 years. Consequently, you rarely get the feeling he really had his heart in this one. O come all ye Willie faithful only.

** HANSON, “Snowed In,” Mercury. The teeny-bop trio from Tulsa takes the something-for-everyone approach with limited success: a Jackson 5 sound-alike, funk-lite, neo-folk and quasi-hard rock. Start shoveling.

*** VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Country Cares for Kids,” BNA. This benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis features a baker’s dozen country hitmakers. Nicely balanced and varied performances, about half traditional, half originals, including the “We Are the World”-like all-star opening ballad, “Make a Miracle.”

** 1/2 VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Superstar Christmas,” Epic. This collection, benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research, doesn’t reach far beyond the Columbia-Epic talent roster, but still encompasses a good range of moods from its rock, pop, MOR, R&B; and country participants.

*** ROOMFUL OF BLUES, “Roomful of Blues Xmas,” Bullseye Blues. The choice for the roots R&B; fan on your list. Casually on-the-mark vocals by Sugar Ray Norcia and generous helpings of fat horn licks distinguish this collection, further freshened by several rarities culled from the R&B; song treasure trove.

*** ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, “Merry Texas Christmas Y’All,” Windham Hill. The standard-bearers of Western swing music certainly know how to make the holiday spirit bright, from the bouncy Tex-Mex version of “Feliz Navidad” with Tish Hinojosa, to a haunting, lone-prairie treatment of “Silent Night” with guests Willie Nelson and Don Walser.

*** VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Xmas Marks the Spot,” Rykodisc. This year’s most eclectic sampler, with tracks from Bahamian guitarist Joseph Spence, Texas outlaw Jerry Jeff Walker, proto-pop-rock band Big Star, lounge king Arthur Lyman, Hungarian folksinger Marta Sebestyen and the American Boychoir. For your most adventurous holiday party gatherings.

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Albums and other items in Gift Guide are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).