The music of Brian Wilson, with or without the Beach Boys, always had a touch of Christmas to it. The combination of the harmonies and the occasional use of bells suggested the winter holidays, in spite of the prevalent Southern California setting. Therefore it makes sense that Wilson would go full-tilt festive with What I Really Want for Christmas (Arista). While it’s interesting to hear what Wilson makes of traditionals such as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “It Came Upon a Midnight,” they pretty much sound the way you might expect them to in his hands. More interesting, I think, are Wilson’s contributions to the holiday music songbook. There are five songs credited to him, including “What I Really Want for Christmas,” co-written with Bernie Taupin, and “Christmasey,” a collaboration with Jimmy Webb.

The best new holiday music CD of the year, as well as the last few years, The Season (Epic) by Jane Monheit, is as warm and welcoming as a roaring fireplace (with a well-placed fireplace screen). Twenty-something jazz vocalist Monheit has already proven that she is at home singing standards from the American songbook, so wrapping herself in the songs of the winter holiday season was the obvious next step. Opening with two of the late 20th century’s finest Christmas compositions, Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and the Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas Darling,” Monheit makes the moment memorable and merry. Her rendition of “The Man With the Bag” swings “extra special good,” “Sleighride” moves at a comfortable pace and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” arrives in a snappy style. Closing the disc is “My Grown Up Christmas List,” every bit the equal of Streisand’s 2001 version.

Remixes of popular Christmas tunes continues to be popular this year. On Merry Mixmas: Christmas Classics Remixed (Capitol), “top DJs” get their hot little hands on 15 classic Christmas numbers and work their revisionist magic. Respectful remixes include: Bing “Der Bingle” Crosby’s “Winter Wonderland” by Bent; Nat King Cole’s “All I Want for Christmas” by MJ Cole; Ella Fitzgerald’s “Sleigh Ride” by The Latin Project; and Kay Starr’s “The Man With the Bag” by Thunderball. My very favorites are Billy May’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo” by Malibu; Johnny Mercer’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Q-Burns; and Julie London’s “I’d Like You for Christmas” by Ursula 1000.

Christmas Remixed 2 (Six Degrees) goes out a little further on the limb of the Christmas tree and comes up with pleasant surprises such as: the Tonal remix of “The Christmas Song” by Jimmy McGriff; the MNO remix of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Rosemary Clooney; the Rondo Brothers remix of Patti Page’s “Frosty the Snowman”; the Red Baron remix of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Berlin Symphonic Orchestra; and the wonderful Future Loop Foundation remix of Vic Damone’s “Winter Wonderland.”

Just a few months after taking the classical crossover crowd by storm, international all-male quartet Il Divo shifts their seductive gaze to the holidays with The Christmas Collection (Syco Music/Columbia). In addition to the kinds of carols that you might expect, including “O Holy Night,” “White Christmas” and “Silent Night,” the foxy foursome throw in curveballs such as “Over the Rainbow” and “The Lord’s Prayer” for good measure.

Queer quartet The Kinsey Sicks sing about the season in their original dragapella style on Oy Vey in a Manger (kinseysicks.com). Subtitled “Christmas Carols and Other Jewish Music,” The Kinsey Sicks succeeds in being both irreverent and relevant, often at the same time. Rachel (Ben Schatz), Trampolina (Chris Dilley), Trixie (Jeff Manabat) and Winnie (Irwin Keller) serenade us with some of the wittiest parody lyrics ever written for this or any season. Festive and funny favorites include: “I Had A Little Facial,” “Crystal Time In The City,” the “Chanukah Medley” (including “Jews Better Watch Out” and “Hock Your Wages”), “Jingle Bells, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” “Harried Little Christmas” and one of the most unique retellings of the “The Story of Christmas” you will ever hear.

One listen to Oy Vey in a Manger reminds us that Jews do humor well. The LeeVees use that to their advantage on Hanukkah Rocks (Reprise/Jdub), a collection of brand new Hanukkah songs as radiant as a menorah on the eighth day of the festival of lights. The brainchild of Adam LeeVee (Adam Gardner of Guster) and David LeeVee (Dave Schneider of the Zambonis), the kosher quintet rocks its way through 10 (including a hidden track) numbers with the potential for becoming standards. Light the candles and spin the dreidel to “Latke Clan,” “Goyim Friends,” “How Do You Spell Channukkah?” “Kugel,” “Jewish Girls (At The Matzoh Ball)” and “Gelt Melts.”

Speaking of nice Jewish boys, Kenny G (nee Gorelick) and his ubiquitous soprano saxophone can be heard on the compilation The Greatest Holiday Classics (Arista). With songs culled from his three previous holiday recordings, including the originals “Miracles” and “The Chanukah Song,” this collection makes the yuletide G.

What are holidays without a healthy dose of camp? If you didn’t get enough from the Kinseys, the LeeVees or, unintentionally, from Mr. G, consider the Ultra-Lounge compilation Christmas Cocktails, Part Three (Capitol). Although nothing really comes close to capturing the toasty good time of Carmen McRae and Sammy Davis, Jr.’s duet on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” Johnny Mercer’s “Jingle Bells” swings, Billy May’s “Do You Believe in Santa Claus?” is swell, Ray Anthony’s “Marshmallow World” has bounce and Nat King Cole’s “Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas to You)” adds an international flair.

The height of holiday camp may be found in the three-disc box set The Holiday Collection (Martha Stewart Living/Epic/Legacy). Billed as “a great gift for every holiday hostess,” except for those celebrating other winter holidays, each disc has a theme. The “Traditional Songs for the Holidays” on disc one are performed by a variety of (mostly) living and contemporary artists, ranging from Mariah Carey to Tony Bennett. Disc two, “Jazz for the Holidays,” contains a similar spectrum of performers, from jazz hottie Chris Botti to Louis Armstrong. The third “Classical Favorites” disc opens with Il Divo and closes with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, so you get the picture.

Finally, The Night Before Christmas: A Windham Hill Christmas (Windham Hill/Legacy), a seasonal selection of holiday favorites, features lesbian musician Barbara Higbie (“Silent Night”) among its cast of Windham Hill artists.