Anyone harboring doubts about Sufjan Steven's Christian beliefs should check out the track listing to Songs for Christmas, a collection of EPs he's recorded annually over the last five years—42 tracks in all, approximately 2 hours. Not only does he favor the sacred over the secular with the usual favorites ("Away in a Manger," "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "The First Noel"), but he also digs deeper into hymnody than most, covering oft overlooked classics like "Once in Royal David's City," "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," and even perpetual Sunday school favorite "The Friendly Beasts." Most of the originals also remain focused on the reason for the season, whether the title is reverent ("The Incarnation") or ridiculous ("Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!") Stevens' stripped-down alt-folk style remains an acquired taste—banjo and acoustic guitar augmented by piano, xylophone, and woodwinds, topped off by some breathy, off-key group singing that sounds influenced by lots of eggnog. Yet Stevens' simplicity and earnestness manages to bridge this timeless music to the traditions of Christmases past.

Christmas Offerings (Essential Records)

In the spirit of their best-selling Offerings worship albums, Third Day now presents a similar mixture of studio recordings and live tracks, this time inspired by the Christmas season. If you've been long hoping to hear the band play through the standard Christmas catalog, this is the album for you, playing out exactly as you'd imagine it. Unfortunately, the covers of "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Joy to the World," "Silent Night," and six others are all strictly by-the-numbers, adapting them to a vanilla roots pop sound that offers nothing in the way of an interesting hook or exciting stylistic transformation. The four unimaginative originals similarly fall short of the band's potential—I can't help thinking "Born in Bethlehem" owes its melody to "Frère Jacques." Whether you're an enthusiastic or disenchanted fan of Third Day, Christmas Offerings delivers exactly what you would expect, and nothing more.

Christmas with Matthew Ward (www.matthewward.com)

The first Christmas album from 2nd Chapter of Acts' esteemed male vocalist, and he's still in fine voice 25 years later as a solo artist. But this independent release's production values are second-rate at best, using keyboards in substitution of orchestra, pipe organ, and more. Matthew Ward and co-producer Gary Leach compensate with their classical sensibilities for traditional church-styled renditions of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Other more inventive arrangements include a quietly jazzy "Silent Night" and an eastern European-flavored "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" reminiscent of Sting. Most of the album plays out very predictably, the only original being "Glory to the King," which bears a passing resemblance to 2nd Chapter's "Easter Song." Not a distinctive holiday effort, but not badly performed or without its seasonal charm. A portion of the proceeds benefit Children's HopeChest, an international ministry for orphan care.