Album: Bob Dylan, Christmas in the Heart (Columbia)

Dreaded before release and derided after, Dylan's 34th studio album is arguably his strangest. Not just because it exists but because of the way he's done it.

If you want to hear "Here Comes Santa Claus" gone bluegrass, or "Winter Wonderland" given a pseudo-Hawaiian twang, this is the album for you. Has he gone completely mad? Once you've recovered from belly laughs louder than Father Christmas's ho-ho-hos, Dylan completists can at least feel a warm glow at knowing that the proceeds will go to charity.