Slowly, inexorably, Christmas music worked its way back into the pop landscape until it finally reached a pervasive saturation unmatched since its heyday of '50s holidays with Coca-Cola magazine advertisements, specially decorated cartons of cigarettes and Perry Como TV specials. Even before Thanksgiving, stores and malls are now filled with twinkly, tinkly versions of "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride." Father Guido Sarducci suggests an every-other-year moratorium on playing "Little Drummer Boy."

"I'm still sick of it from last year," he says on his protest Christmas record, "One Hundred Bulbs on the Christmas Tree Party."

A amazing parade of willing doofuses provides a steady stream of new Christmas records, without a trace of irony, wit or redemptive attribute of any sort - pure cashing in. Do you think there is any other possible explanation for a two-CD set of Christmas songs by Toby Keith?

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Nobody makes a Christmas album unless they already have a following. It is seen as a way to extend the brand. Sooner or later, everybody who lasts long enough in the record business makes a Christmas record: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Elton John, the Kinks, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Linda Ronstadt. Even hip, edgy rock acts you might think would be immune: R.E.M., the Pretenders, U2, the Ramones, Rufus Wainwright.