It wouldn't be the holidays in Albuquerque without the New Mexico Jazz Workshop's Yule Struttin' party. Way back since 1992, the state's nonprofit jazz steward has decked the halls with shiny baubles, fine art, food, wine, women and song to put some sparkle in the holidays and a little coin in the organization's cash box. No "Gift of the Magi" corollary here--Yule Struttin' is a win-win for jazz in New Mexico.

Several years ago, NOBUNNY was hoping to travel the country as an animal Elvis impersonator. “I figured I could fill the animal niche since there’s already like a Thai-Elvis and an extreme-Elvis and all that stuff,” he explains.

The Rock 4 Peace concert features UNDOit, Five Minute Sin and Who Killed Carla on Friday, Dec. 5, at Amped Performance Center (4200 Lomas NE). $5, all-ages, 7 p.m. (LM)

Sometimes you'd just rather be stressed out. That's what the well-intentioned folks at Brushfire Records don't seem to understand. This collection of breezy, down-tempo jingles includes tracks from Jack Johnson, Mason Jennings, G. Love and ALO among others. If you like guitar-heavy Christmas covers, then by all means snag this thing. But in a time of near economic collapse, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and holiday shopping madness, you have to wonder: What are these musicians so goddamned relaxed about? The record is probably meant as an escape from the worries of the world, but it comes off as annoying, insensate and painfully inappropriate. (SM)