Smoosh

• 'Find a Way'

Music for 'tweens and beyond from energetic Seattle sisters Chloe & Asya. Jason McGerr from Death Cab for Cutie discovered the two in a music shop and soon became their mentor. Ages 12 and 14, they released their CD Free to Stay this year.
 

Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau

• 'Ring of Life'

Two jazz giants team up for a rich CD of guitar and piano collaborations, perfect for fireside listening.
 

Frank Peter Zimmermann and Heinrich Schiff

• 'Vif, avec entrain' from the Sonata for Violin and Cello by Maurice Ravel

Music from classic to modern is on a CD of sparkling duos by violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann and cellist Heinrich Schiff. It features Bach, Ravel, Martinu, Honegger and Pintscher.
 

The Decemberists

• 'The Perfect Crime #2'

While their previous CDs were a bit more folksy and genteel, The Decemberists have taken on an edgier sound for their latest, The Crane Wife.
 

Various Artists

• 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

Full of seasonal classics performed by everyone from Ellis Marsalis to the Heritage Hall Jazz Band and the Dukes of Dixieland, this CD is also a benefit album with a portion of proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity's Musicians' Village Project.
 

Sufjan Stevens

• 'The Little Drummer Boy'

Singer/Songwriter Sufjan Stevens really hated traditional Christmas carols, but decided it was time to come to terms with them. Over the years he sent mp3s to his friends of his own arrangements of yuletide songs both schlocky and sublime. Now a full box set of them has been released on CD, complete with Christmas stickers, song lyrics and chord charts.
 

Gigi

• 'Semena-Worck'

Time was when Aster Aweke was the shining star of Ethiopian pop, but now there's a new voice from the Horn of Africa: Ejigayehu Shibabaw, a.k.a. GIGI. Producer Bill Laswell helped shape her hypnotic new CD, Gold & Wax.
 

Jon Auer

• 'Bottom of the Bottle'

Jon Auer took time off from his work with The Posies to release a solo CD called Songs from the Year of Our Demise, featuring melodic anthems that recall both his music with The Posies and Big Star.
 

Phil Brown

• 'Purple Haze'

Guitarist, songwriter and classically-trained violinist Phil Brown has boldly released a CD of Hendrix classics called The Jimi Project. Not just anyone could pull this off, but Brown does some amazing work with electrifying playing and an originality that puts a personal stamp on some well-known '60s hits.
 

Bootsy Collins

• 'N-Yo City'

Christmas Is 4 Ever features funkified versions of everything from "Jingle Bells" and "The Christmas Song" to "Winter Wonderland." The legendary Parliament-Funkadelic bass player has also whipped up a few new originals for the season.