Every year, we scour the papers and Internet looking for Houston's definitive guide to spectacular residential Christmas lights displays, and every year, what we find what comes up a little lacking. A handful of neighborhoods are invariably cited, and we've already been to most of them. There's the Prestonwood subdivision near 249 and 1960, Scott Terrace off Scott between Yellowstone and O.S.T., and Shepherd Park Plaza / Candlelight Plaza, near Ella and W. 43rd. River Oaks, Woodland Height
This list was damn near impossible to compile. The criteria: original holiday songs recorded after 1990. There aren't many tunes that qualify, and of the ones that do, few of them are worth listening to. Like fake marshmallow froth atop a cup of instant cocoa, here's the crème de la crème of the less-than-lame holiday songs.
5. Savatage, "Dead Winter Dead": Hails from the 1995 metal album of the same name, which also spawned the overplayed hit "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)." The latter i
​The 69 Eyes, Dommin, The Becoming: Sun., Oct. 11. Meridian.
All Time Low, Hey Monday, We The Kings, Friday Night Boys: Wed., Oct. 28. House of Blues.
"Oldies Fest" With The Allen Oldies Band, Roy Head, Archie Bell, Barbara Lynn: Sat., Sept. 5. Continental Club.
Billy Squier: Sun., Oct. 4. Warehouse Live.
Black Congress (7" Release Show), Balaclavas: Fri., Sept. 11. Mango's.
Cannibal Corpse, Hatebreed: Thu., Nov. 19. Meridian.
Cartel, This Providence, The Dares, The Summer Set: Sun., Nov. 22.
