In the Mix

Josh Groban's Noel is the biggest selling CD of 2007, with 2.8 million copies moved in just 8 weeks. (In equally disturbing news, High School Musical 2 is second with 2.7 million, and Daughtry third with 2.3.) This, it seems, is further evidence of the Oprahization of the cultural landscape, as the Mighty O recently declared the nice and easy Noel to be "the one Christmas CD every family should have." (Having boosted the careers of Groban, Leo Tolstoy and James Frey into the stratosphere, the next test of the Winfrey factor comes on Jan. 3, when her fave Barack Obama competes in the Iowa Caucuses.)

I think the Xmas CD I'd give to every family, whether it's happy or unhappy in its own way, would be A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, the 1963 masterpiece that included Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," even if its auteur is an accused murderer.

But while the sales success of Groban - he's the one wearing leather trousers, above - is rather awe inspiring, around here we prefer a different brand of Christmas awesomeness, that's a little more, as Tina Turner used to say "nice and rough." Those qualities are on display in this song by the Brtitish metal trio Reuben, who, by the way, have spawned a tribute band called Corned Beef. The subtitles are most helpful.