It’s been a great year for music. Artists like Vampire Weekend and Kanye West growing into their own sound, bands like CHVRCHES and FIDLAR broadening the spectrum, Miley Cyrus making teddy bears weird.

2013 also introduced us to Mary Lambert. In Dido-esque fashion, we first met Mary during Macklemore‘s “Same Love“, which remains one of the most important songs of the past couple years. What followed was an introduction to a woman with a beautiful voice and an even better message. That profile likely increases this week with the EP “Welcome To The Age Of My Body” which features a split version of “I Know Girls (Body Love)” and the now familiar “She Keeps Me Warm“. Please share it with any woman that’s important in your world.

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Before I get to the new Christmas music…what happened to B.o.B.? This week sees the release of his latest “Underground Luxury“, and it’s not as happy-go-lucky as the “Magic” and “Airplanes” that we used to know. He loves money…and ass…but with a touch of introspection. “Headband” is a jam, but way more indicative of album’s tone than I expected. Somewhere Rivers Cuomo is shaking his head.

Ok. Back to the season.

Diplo has also had a great year. A mad decent year in fact. Between Major Lazer, block parties, and crunk bear , Thomas Pentz set it off in a lot of ways. His Mad Decent outfit caps off 2013 with a collection of Christmas songs, perfect for the person on your list who keeps glow sticks in her purse.

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For something a little cleaner and less colorful, try Nerina Pallot on for size. The London born singer adds a touch of indie stylings to this classic set of seasonal originals. I really dig it, and think you might too.

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All that being said, there’s really no reason for you to ever stop listening to Otis Redding‘s “White Christmas“, so spend your time wisely.