It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and whether you like it or not, Christmas music is being played all around. Music is a big part of the holidays, so here is my list of the best seven albums to make you feel the coziness and cheer of the season:

7. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red

At number seven is Kelly Clarkson’s album Wrapped in Red, released in 2013. Clarkson combines Christmas favorites such as “White Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with modern songs like “All I Want for Christmas is You.” However, she also includes originals like “Wrapped in Red” and “Underneath the Tree,” so everyone is bound to find a favourite.

6. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Eve and Other Stories

Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s album Christmas Eve and Other Stories, released in 1996, tells a story in which each song is one chapter of a book. What’s different between this album and the others on the list is its rock orchestra genre, and that the band presents only two well-known tracks, “O Holy Night” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”“A Mad Russian’s Christmas” and “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” are hits everyone is sure to have unknowingly heard and loved.

5. Dean Martin, The Dean Martin Christmas Album

Dean Martin’s feel-good album makes the list at number five. This album was originally released in 1966, yet his versions of many holiday favourites are still popular today. Martin adds his own take on classics such as “Silent Night” and “White Christmas,” and his versions remain just as timeless as the originals.

4. Mariah Carey, Merry Christmas

Mariah Carey is known for her multi-octave vocal range, and this is evident in her Christmas album released in 1994. The album features her most popular hit “All I Want for Christmas is You,” which is now considered a contemporary Christmas classic. Merry Christmas is filled with soulful holiday pop and R&B songs, providing something unique to the canon of holiday music.

3. Bing Crosby, White Christmas

This has been a timeless classic for many decades, as it was first put together in 1945 and still remains popular. His take on the song “White Christmas” is the best-selling version, with 50 million copies sold. His whole album gives a warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling to listeners and gets everyone in a holiday spirit.

2. Nat King Cole, The Christmas Song

Nat King Cole, the legendary Christmas singer, makes the list at number two. The Christmas Song is filled with many traditional songs and was originally released in 1960. Cole sings “O Tannenbaum” in German, its original language, instead of translating it to English as most artists would. If you’re looking for more traditional religious Christmas music, Cole’s album is the one for you.

1. Michael Bublé, Christmas

Topping the list is Michael Bublé’s Christmas, which was released in 2011. This album is a mix of classic and modern covers, but his original song “Cold December Night” is also a great hit. His voice echoes back to past eras and simultaneously offers a vocally beautiful modern twist. Christmas appeals to almost all demographics, making it very worthy of its top rank.

Image courtesy of Branson Christmas