Regular readers of the blog know that in a very slightly alternate reality, I become a music writer so I can hang out with everyone at NPR Music. Therefore, worming my way into a mention on the wonderful All Songs Considered show about holiday music counts as one of my great accomplishments of 2009. (This resulted from an observation I made to Bob Boilen about Bob Dylan's appearance in this video, "Must Be Santa.")

Even if I had not earned a shout-out, however, I would highly recommend the show, where official Pal Of Monkey See Stephen Thompson plays the breathtaking "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" by Sufjan Stevens — you just gotta hear it, if you never have — and you will hear lots of other holiday music, both cheerful and silly and not so cheerful and silly. And in some cases, the music is not silly but the conversation is very silly, which is just how I like it.

Highly recommended! Four stars! Exceeded expectations!