The holiday season is upon us and while you are hanging your stockings and lighting your Menorah’s, you’ll need some fresh music to fill the brisk air. This is probably one of my favorite Top 5 lists as I’ve been discovering all of these mind-blowing gems tucked away just waiting to be unearthed. Be sure to VOTE for your favorite in the embedded poll below. Congrats to Three Blind Wolves for winning October’s Top Song with “Echo on the Night Train.”

1.  “BLACKOUT” – PICKWICK  Talk about being stopped dead in your tracks.  Motown, gospel, and a wailing voice from the bellows of your soul make up the unlikely Seattle outfit Pickwick.  Gaining steam thanks to some inventively creative videos and rabid fans, this is just another reason for me to pick up and go to the Pacific NW pronto.  In the meantime, lead singer Galen Disston’s voice has the force of a freight train dripping with honey.  Sing it, brotha! I bet he could belt some mean Darryl Hall covers, too.  Send me a video of it! In the meantime, enjoy this video recorded a capella in the Reading Room at The University of Washington. Official Website | Facebook | Twitter

2.  “OMAHA” – AUNT MARTHA Stumbling onto a live performance at the “private” Atlanta living-room venue “Grocery on Home,” 5-piece band of men from New England caused a seismic shift in the music world.  Deciding to unplug for the intimate collection of 40 people, the fiddle-picking combined with the kick-drum kicking and lead singer Tim Noyes’ polished infectious voice dropped every jaw.  Click here for a short video clip from that night.  Their newest EP Bloodshot is so hauntingly contagious and moving, the echoes rattle through your body long after the lyrically-rich EP’s last note. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.  Official Website | Facebook |  Twitter | Download

3.  “THE DAY” – MARSHALL RUFFIN  A curious 24-year old white boy that sings the blues with a cracked heart as big as B.B. King.  Hailing from Columbus, GA, Marshall Ruffin will bring an entire audience to his knees with his rootsy soulful wailings.  Not to mention, this boy can shred.  I can hear lots of Allman influence in his guitar-playing and come to find out, he teaches guitar.  Ruffin’s talent cuppeth is overflowing and I can’t wait to introduce him to you.  Official Website | Facebook 

 4.  “O BLACK RIVER” – HANNAH MILLER  I’m a sucker for gospel-infused modern music and I was so moved by this song.  This Nashville songstress interlaces a delicate and elegant twist to an otherwise gospel foot-stomper.  Miller’s genuine delivery of her lonesome surrender beckons the listener to experience the hopeful whisper of the river with her.  Oh and in case you didn’t notice, she bears a striking resemblance to Katie Holmes.  Dawson’s Creek never sounded this good.  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download

5.  “GHOSTS THAT WE KNEW” – MUMFORD & SONS  Seems almost unfair to have a Mumford song on this list but damn it, they’ve done it again.  The world is anxiously awaiting their sophomore follow-up to their shatteringly popular debut album, Sigh No More.  The multi-talented folk-roots-rock quartet from England have made a name for themselves as genuine talents that put on a hell of a live show.  Not to mention that their music has struck a nerve in a way that has virtually the entire world on board (except for Jason Crowley, who must have a screw loose). Test-driving a few new songs in their live appearances, they can do no wrong.  The delicate and haunting desperation in  “Ghosts That We Knew” rages into their signature build which means there’s W-A-Y more gas in their tank than we knew.  Official Website | Facebook | YouTube | Download