Lots of sonic platters of joy are ready to be served up this holiday season, and what better gift to give someone than the universal appeal of music? During this festive time, when credit card debts mount up, layaway plans become way too unmanageable, and the stress of owing money takes charge over one’s soul and wallet as the new year turns, it’s still worth the feeling one gets when one sees someone’s eyes light up when they tear the wrapping paper off a gift, positively effused with sincere delight at its contents. We all still do it, we all get by, we grumble as the new year rolls in, but it’s all worth it; gifts are cool, no doubt, gifts never go out of style, and the end result of giving someone a gift makes it all worth it. Music was no exception this year. There were some great collections for one to gnaw on, collections which run every genre and will turn even the most hard hardened curmudgeon of a Scrooge into the softest teddy bear imaginable, even if it’s only for one holiday. My holiday box set picks are below, this one goes to eleven:

As part of Amazon’s weekly $2.99 MP3 album deals, Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits is on sale for only $2.99.

Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits contains 12 tracks, including popular songs like “School’s Out,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Under My Wheels,” “Be My Lover,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” all of which right there justify the $3 price tag! Also, the album isn’t available on CD in the U.S., so definitely grab this now on sale on MP3.

Browse the main sale page to view all 45 albums on sale for only $2.99 each in MP3 format. Here’s a few more albums in the sale that are of note:

– Prince – Purple Rain
– Madonna – Celebration (18-track Hits album)
– Madonna: Ray Of Light
– Elvis Presley: Playlist: The Very Best Of Elvis Presley (14-track Hits album)

Remember back in October we reported that Alice Cooper would be playing himself in Tim Burton‘s upcoming movie Dark Shadows? Well, we haven’t heard much since then about the casting and the shock rocker was noticeably absent from the film’s domestic trailer, which was released last week.

Now, the international trailer has been released and guess who pops up in it at the end? That’s right, Alice Cooper – yeah!!!

Watch the international trailer here below.

After being on the receiving of some mighty bad buzz last month all has been quiet on the production front of Tim Burton‘s big-screen adaptation of the classic Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows. But a recent development has temporarily shone the spotlight on the movie in the form of the recently-announced casting of Alice Cooper, the star of such films as Sextette, Monster Dog, Prince of Darkness, and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (his performance as Freddy Krueger’s stepfather had Oscar gold written all over it-damn you Jack Palance). Apparently when Cooper isn’t acting he’s indulging his secret passion for making music, something he has been doing for more than four decades. Who knew?

Alice Cooper
Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Universal Music Enterprises
Released September 12, 2011 UK: CD | MP3
September 13, 2011 U.S.: CD | MP3

After the disbandment of the Alice Cooper band, its frontman went solo and in 1975 released his first album: Welcome To My Nightmare. 36 years later Alice Cooper has released its follow-up, Welcome 2 My Nightmare. And you thought Chinese Democracy took a long time to make.

Ok, ok, so it’s not the same thing. Alice has released 17 albums in between (not including the many live albums and countless best of’s) and been constantly busy. His albums have ranged from the brilliant (Hey Stoopid) to boring (Dragontown). Those who were disappointed with 2008’s Along Came A Spider will be delighted with this return to gruesome form.

As with most of Alice’s past albums, much of this is playful in a twisted way. The one-two of the beautiful “Something To Remember Me By” followed by a tale of grizzly revenge in “When Hell Comes Home” is sure to raise an evil smile.