It happens each year like clockwork — a glut of holiday CDs are released in a wave of music industry madness, and 2007 is no exception. With more than 60 releases this year looking to capitalize on shoppers’ attempts to get in the yuletide spirit, it’s easy to make a poor decision. Here are a few discs you may not be familiar with: 100 Best Carols, various artists.

EMI Classics: Priced slightly more than most single CDs, this six-disc set, part of EMI Classics 100 best series (100bestseries.com), is a gorgeous, classy collection featuring incredible choral groups including the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, the Bach Choir and the King’s Singers performing traditional hymns and baroque anthems. Soloists include Barbara Hendricks, Hermann Prey and Roberto Alagna among others. The price, quality and quantity can’t be beat.

A Santa Cause Vol 1 & 2, various artists (Immortal): This two-disc set bills itself as a punk rock Christmas, but with bands like Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory and lesser known rockers, it’s really post-punk with some emo and pop thrown in for good measure. A percentage of the profits go to Cure Autism Now.

A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats From Santa’s Bag, Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra (Ubiquity): This release defies categorization: It’s electronica, hip-hop, funk, R&B, sprinkled with Middle Eastern musical inspiration and tied together nice and tight with a heavy ’70s-inspired bass line. Funky treats indeed. A new generation’s answer to Vince Guaraldi’s timeless score to A Charlie Brown Christmas .