The end of the year is vastly approaching and, as the collective blogosphere clamours to compile countless lists inspecting, dissecting, prospecting and rejecting the musical output of 2007, it’s nice to be reminded that December is also the holiday season. It’s in that spirit that Zunior.com has put together An Instrumental Christmas: The 2007 Zunior Holiday Album.

Featuring contributions by such coveted Canadian indie greats as Great Lake Swimmers, Royal Wood, Mike O’Neill and The Bicycles, not only does this collection boast a strong track listing, but it’s also supporting a good cause, as 100% of the cost of this album is going directly to the Daily Bread Food Bank. ‘Tis the Season!

While the compilation does offer traditional instrumentals that even your grandparents will love (Royal Wood’s solo piano rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for instance), it wouldn’t be a true indie collection were it not to also include a few vibrant seasonal numbers capable of putting a bit more oomph in your eggnog. Ex Local Rabbit Ben Gunning, for example, lends the basement-funk sensibilities of his solo work to “Bag of Toys,” and Windom Earle offers up what could likely have been the most epic soundtrack to an Atari game in the form of “What Child is This.”

That is to say nothing of album opener, “Seasonal Instrumental No.1,” the prototypical holiday original from Great Lake Swimmers—a delicate and warm acoustic track reminiscent of Mark Knopfler’s theme to The Princess Bride. Conversely, the compilation closes on a boisterous note, as the boys from Kelp Records (in the guys of The Centretown Boys Choir) do their best “She’s a Rainbow” backing vocals and run caroling out the door with “Fa La La La” (which I’m told was considered for an Old Navy add…).

Ok, ok, so this whole post is a shameless endorsement of a holiday album, but seeing as all the proceeds go to charity I figured I could get away with it. I promise to make up for it with some scathing grinchery at a later date. Let the merry list-making continue, O mighty Blogosphere!

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Check out the Bicycles contribution to An Instrumental Christmas below (right-click, “Save Link As” to download):

The Bicycles - It’s a Magic Christmas

Pick up the album from Zunior.com right here.