Album of the Day

Aren't the best presents under the Christmas tree always a surprise? No one would've guessed that Scott Weiland, Grammy-winning lead singer of alt-rock hitmakers Stone Temple Pilots, had a holiday album in him. THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR shows the performer's a soft spot for pop vocalists of decades past with versions of “White Christmas” and “The Christmas Song” that would have made Crosby and Cole nod in admiration. But the 10 tracks here also include a few less-traditional takes on seasonal standards; “O Holy Night” gets some reggae flavor and “Silent Night” a bossa nova beat. A labor of love for the Christmas music he grew up on, Scott Weiland's THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR is pretty wonderful, indeed.