Mad Men Christmas: Music from and Inspired by the Hit AMC TV Series should come with a sticker that says "break in the case of a holiday cocktail party emergency," as its 12 festive cuts are as spiked eggnog-ready as they are brimming over with seasonal cheer. Beginning with the familiar and evocative,
Rjd2-penned title cut, and quickly followed by actress
Jessica Pare's divisive (amongst Mad Men fans) performance of the ultra-twee 1960s French hit "Zou Bisou Bisou,"
Mad Men Christmas offers up enough period standards like
Dean Martin's "Baby It's Cold Outside,"
Mel Tormé's "Christmas Song," and
Tony Bennett's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to keep the drinks flowing and the yule log and Lucky Strikes burning well into the evening. ~ James Christopher Monger