If you aren't familiar with Woody Paul and Ranger Doug, these are real cowboy singers whose smooth three-part harmonies, bad jokes, and old-timey taste in tunes make for engaging and entertaining performances and albums. Like sons of the Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky do a ranch-hand-like job of exploring the Christmas spirit on their second holiday album. With titles such as "The Prairie Dog Christmas Ball," "Sidemeat's Christmas Stew," and "The Twelve Days of Cowboy Christmas," you get a pretty clear picture of how much fun these buckaroos are having. Which isn't to say they can't be serious ("Virgen Maria" is a moving song of faith). But "The Christmas Yodel" is more their forte. Each disc ought to come with a slice of ham. --Martin Keller