Around this time every year I start combing through my music library looking for albums that I can slip on in the background of those wonderful holiday-themed family functions. What can I say? No one should have to endure multiple spins of Céline Dion’s latest Christmas outing. Basically, the goal is to spike the musical punch with the perfect blend of tunes that are hip enough to be enjoyed, but not so audacious that they alert fellow party-goers to the fact that they’re drinking homebrew instead of eggnog.

One year I slipped on some Solomon Burke and, of course, Feist is an easy sell, but it’s always nice to inject the festivities with something family members won’t recognize. Selecting the right albums can be a subtle and patient art—as much as I may want to groove to Q-Tip’s latest (aaah, yeah) that would blow my cover in an instant. Turns out my work is pretty much done this year though, as Valery Gore’s latest album, Avalanche to Wandering Bear, is the perfect candidate to keep me thoroughly entertained while casually subverting Céline, The Neville Brothers and whomever else my mom will have on repeat this month.

With catchy melodies, jaunty rhythms and an understated vocal delivery that is the icing on the cake, I can listen to Gore ad nauseam. Album opener “Shoes of Glass” is simply undeniable and tracks like “Worried Head” easily follow suit—they’re upbeat and bright without being too bombastic.  Moreover, songs like “Great Lakes” and “Angorra” exemplify the sweet subtlety that taking over the family radio would require.

Sure, it may seem a bit self-righteous to force new music on one’s family, but I’m already a blogger and that assumes a certain extent of vanity. Of course, there’s also the self-preservation angle, as I’m just trying to save myself from “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”. Either way, all I’m trying to do is make sure there’s at least some bearable music over the holidays and with Avalanche to Wandering Bear I can’t go wrong.

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Valery Gore - Shoes of Glass

Hear more at her Myspace page or grab a digital copy of Avalanche to Wandering Bear here.