Acoustic Christmas

There's something in the delicacy of a windless, frosty, Christmas morning that finds its perfect match in an acoustic guitar, gently strummed. Indie folkster Sufjan Stevens dedicated an entire box-set, Songs for Christmas, to his reflections on both the sacred and the profane sides of the season, and gets us underway here. Shawn Colvin warms us by the fireside of lounge jazz on "Christmas Time Is Here". Hear familiar carols as if it were the very first time . . . in Next Steps.

Whiskeytown (featuring Ryan Adams) taps a mellow vein of alt country for its contribution to the Yuletide canon, "Houses on the Hill" – a rather sad tale of remembrance. Jazz pianist Randy Klein strips "Silent Night" to its bare bones, and causes time to stand still as the melody seems to capture the wonder of gently falling snowflakes, while Cherish the Ladies gives the season a Celtic slant. Discover exactly why Wenceslas was such a good king, in Deep Cuts.

Scottish Canadian folk singer David Francey has a warm voice, ideally suited to a low-key rendition of "Good King Wenceslas" which draws attention to the piece's charitable heart. America changes the vibe completely, with a sunny, harmony filled evocation of "Christmas in California", and classical guitarist Scott Kritzer interprets the sublime Agustín Barrios arrangement, "Villancio de Navidad", to perfection.

Christmas can be a rowdy affair, but there are times over the holiday you'll want to kick back, tipple perhaps in hand, and relax as you reflect — amid the debris of turkey leftovers and wrapping paper — on the year almost gone and the one about to begin. These acoustic seasonal Essentials, which run the gamut of styles from piano jazz to indie folk to mainstream pop, will provide you with the perfect soundtrack for slow Christmas nights spent by the fireside. Press play and warm your toes, your hands and the cockles of your heart.