Today starts the beginning of advent, and I've got a mother coming round for mince pies. I've started making a Christmas playlist, and I wondered if we might all want to spend some time getting Christmassy together, and helping each other out with providing a bearable soundtrack to the festive season.

http://open.spotify.com/user/russwarf/playlist/5Z1Y3mhFawRJYk7fXn1By5

I think Christmas music gets a bit of a bum rap. I know that the staples are horrendous to begin with and overplayed beyond all measure, but I think there's an enormous range of music which beautifully evokes all the wonder, and sadness, and nostalgia, and sex, and joy, and spirit of the season. The idea is to make a playlist which we can all throw on at those inevitable gatherings throughout the month over simmering mulled wine, or alone as we make some homemade chutney for loved ones, or during Christmas day itself.

Only two rules: Nothing ironic, and nothing too obvious either.

Merry Christmas!