Holiday music can be a buzzkill—all those pa-rum-pum-pum-pums pelting down like chestnut-sized hail in every checkout line. To keep the yuletide spirit fresh, listen to these mixes of new, old, and out-of-the-way Christmas songs.

FOR WRAPPING PRESENTS:
Bouncy sounds to get fingers moving.

1. Jackson 5, "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"

2. Sugar Chile Robinson, "Christmas Boogie"

3. The Cadillacs, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

4. Sufjan Stevens, "Come On! Let's Boogie to the Elf Dance!"

5. Tennessee Ernie Ford, "A Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus"

Next: 5 songs to play after the kids go to sleep