Tori Amos' Midwinter Graces

For someone who sings about "recovering Christians," ("In the Springtime of His Voodoo") Tori Amos wouldn't be the first singer-songwriter you'd think would put out an album of holiday classics. But she's done just that with her first seasonal record ever, released this week, called Midwinter Graces.

In it, she reimagines classics like "What Child, Nowell" and "Star of Wonder," but also keeps her signature winking at the sly side with originals like "Pink and Glitter" and "Our New Year." "Pink and Glitter" is Tori-takes-on-the-lounge-act-at-Christmas. It's sexy with its big band orchestration behind her and you can tell she's having fun with it.

If you've already had it with the carols being piped in at every drugstore, department store and everywhere else since the day before Halloween, this is your holiday music salvation, perhaps (if you're a Tori fan, mainly), because her voice — lilting, distinctive and intriguing — would add another whole dimension to the seasonal music landscape.

Photo courtesy of ToriAmos.com