After earning four gold or platinum albums, singer-songwriter-guitarist Chris Isaak put down his surfboard, turned up the air conditioner and laid down Chris Isaak Christmas, featuring 11 traditional songs (including "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" with Stevie Nicks) and five originals — the lonely-at-Christmas "Washington Square," "Hey Santa!" and "Christmas On TV," the spiritual "Brightest Star" and the maybe-next-year "Gotta Be Good." Chris Isaak Christmas is this season's holiday surprise — a Christmas album that's actually cool.
