Parlovr wishes you a merry Xmas.

So last week I hinted at the impending holiday season, but as each day passes it becomes more and more difficult to avoid the Christmas standards. I suppose it’s a little grinchy of me to even try to avoid them. It’s not that I don’t like the holidays, I just find this time of year stressful. Stressful and predictable. But it’s my own fault I suppose, the holidays are about checking cynicism at the door and embracing the self effacing ugly sweater attitude of the season.

That being said, as much as I love listening to Bing Crosby and David Bowie’s rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy,” I feel like there is always room to expand that Christmas catalogue. So this week on Tuesday Tracks, we look at a trio of new, unconventional nominations to the Christmas Carol Canon.

First up, “Kindle a Flame in Her Heart” by Los Campesinos, is probably the most traditional of the bunch here. The song is vaguely reminiscent of “Fairytale of New York,” perhaps for the Arts & Crafts set. Anyway, the song puts its holiday identifiers front and centre with descending winter wonderland chimes. A great addition to any Christmas mix.

Next is Moka Only. You may not hear much about the West Coast MC these days, but he’s about as prolific as it gets. In addition to releasing three albums this year, he’s also got Martian Xmas 2010 available, a tradition he has maintained every year since 2004. That’s right, Moka Only LOVES Christmas. “Canada Line” is but one of his gifts to you. Here’s to hoping we see more hip hop artists making their contributions in the future.

Finally Parlovr has decided to do a little Christmas giving of their own. The band have made available two original Christmas songs for download when you donate to avaaz.org, an organization that “brings people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.” Charitable giving and a new Christmas classic called “Spike the Eggnog”? That’s sure to grow your heart at least three sizes.

First, Parlovr were my stand out favourite act at Canadian Music Week this past spring. Despite playing to a near-empty house, they pulled out one of the most energetic and flat-out joyful performances I’d seen in quite a while. Three dudes just playing music for the sake of it, it didn’t matter who was there. It was as inspiring as it was awesome. For those of us who have been looking forward to new music from these Montrealers, the wait is finally over. Their new EP Hell/Heaven/Big/Love hits the streets today. Here’s a taste with the first track “Hell, Heaven”:

Next, Meet Me At The Muster Station is the debut LP from Kingsont’s PS I Love You. Paul Saulnier (PS) has made a name for himself over the course of the past year, surprising audiences with beautiful, angsty, yet uplifting performances. The title of the track presented might make you question whether it’s worth a click, but rest assured it is: “Butterflies and Boners” is a big, emotional maelstrom that feels like it clocks in far too short at just over three minutes, I suppose that is what the repeat button is for.

Finally, we have Chilly Gonzales. Perhaps known best for his Grammy-nominated work with Feist, he’s a producer/musician/filmmaker/all around eccentric. “I Am Europe” is from his latest album, Ivory Tower, a companion piece to Gonzales’ film of the same name. In the film, which he wrote and stars in, Gonzales plays a renegade chess champion on a mission to introduce the world to a new form of the game he’s created called Jazz Chess. It’s a more fluid game completely devoid of rules in which the player navigates the board by emotion rather than reason—no winners or losers, just chess. Or course, this doesn’t play too much into the album itself, a stylish collection of loungy pop. Check it out:

One of the great redeeming aspects of big, multi-day, city-wide music festivals like Canadian Music Week/Fest is the opportunity for discovery.

It’s very rare these days that one gets the opportunity to hear something truly great, for the first time, in a live setting. Generally, if I’m going to a show where I’m unfamiliar with the band I’ll at least check out their Myspace page, if not snag the whole album online prior to the performance to see what they’re like. But in a setting with literally hundreds of bands playing on dozens of stages, where itineraries are changed more often than undergarments, it is an inevitability that you’ll be stumbling in on some unfamiliar territory.

So for this edition of Tuesday Tracks, I’d like to share a few discoveries: performances I saw by sheer chance and loved every moment.

First up: Everything all the Time benefits by being comprised of a selection of this country’s best musicians, with members contributing to Feist, Sarah Harmer, the Hidden Cameras and Jason Collett. Of course, they also benefit from having one of the most swoon-worthy voices fronting them ever put to tape. But hyperbole aside, don’t be fooled by the precious voice you hear on “Lazy Days” below, Alanna Stuart’s voice is as powerful as it is versatile.

Secondly: Dan Mangan shares a lot with another troubadour from the west, Chad VanGaalen. Both employ unconventional subject matter in their songwriting, but where VanGaalen swerves to the absurd Mangan stays sure footed. When Mangan sings “Robots need love too, they want to be loved by you,” there is such an earnestness in his voice that you take him seriously.

Finally: Parlovr (pretend the “v” is a “u” when you say it) was perhaps my favourite surprise at CMW/F. Hailing from Montreal, they’ve forgone the eight-plus member standard the city has become known for in its band output and culled a trio with a violent and aspirational stage presence.

Even without an extended back up, the simple guitar, keyboard, drum structure creates enormous, passionate music. Parlovr sing, scream and whisper their magnetic affirmations both to and from the crowd. The wonderful, sobering element to their performance is that amongst all the sloppy pop they mash out, it’s impossible to miss the genuine adoration and excitement painted all over their faces. Even in a tiny club, playing for 30 people, they’re living the dream.