Cat Power turns Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas into the kind of holiday release that quietly steals the room. The timing feels perfect: warm, a little bruised, and far more interesting than the usual sleigh-bell rinse.
The arrangement stays spare and close-miked, letting the vocal sit front and center with just enough room tone to feel human. Soft guitar, hushed dynamics, and a faint shimmer around the edges give the track a late-night glow instead of a sugar rush.
For a cold commute, a dim apartment, or wrapping gifts after midnight, the song lands with the right mix of comfort and melancholy. Holiday music rarely sounds this lived-in, and that makes it easy to keep nearby.
