While thoughts of Christmas don't enter many a consumer's mind until Black Friday comes, musicians turn their eyes toward the last page of the calendar a bit earlier. Artists and labels need to conceive of, put together, record, release and market their holiday-themed albums early, so they can make their way into eager listener's stockings before Santa comes for his annual, late December visit.

The changing winds of taste may make the music business fairly unpredictable, but the presence and purchase of new Christmas albums is basically a sure thing; it's almost as much of a certainty as death and taxes. Every year, a new spate of holiday albums flood the stores (and on-line download sites), and this year is no different. Here's a look at a few notable releases that may end up under the Christmas trees in 2012.

Jason Paul Curtis

Lovers Holiday

Self Produced

2012

Washington D.C.-based crooner Jason Paul Curtis came to a realization, during a series of holiday shows in 2011, that the same old Christmas songs wouldn't cut it if he wanted to keep things interesting for his listeners. Curtis found balance by mixing in some season-appropriate standards and, as soon as the holiday season had departed, he started writing some new holiday songs to use in 2012 and beyond.

Curtis visits all three musical arenas on Lovers Holiday. He tackles holiday classics like "The Christmas Waltz" and