The 261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco: This glossy hardback by journalist Garry Mulholland reviews his best albums from 1976 to the present day. A must for the younger music fan, who will be chin-stroking his way through Christmas dinner. Be warned though: this is for revisionists only. Don't give it to anyone over 45 who owns more than one Crosby Stills & Nash album. 28

The Cake Sale: A stocking-filler album by a new band that features members from Bell X1, Glen Hansard, Gemma Hayes and Nina Persson among others. The songs are great and all proceeds go to Oxfam Ireland. 19.99

Dirty Blonde . . . The Diaries of Courtney Love: Have you ever awoken at night trembling in fear at what would happen of somebody found the journals you used to keep when you were 16 (or 35)? Courtney has embraced this fear and published them anyway and either she's not as mad as we think she is or we're all madder than we'd like to think because her's is standard, kitchen-sink neurosis. She wants to stop smoking, she wants to be a star and she hates the way she looks. 26.50

The Beatles Love: The easiest present you will ever buy.

Just check they don't have it first. 14.50 U2 by U2: This definitive book is essential reading for every U2 fan, with each period of band's career written about in length by each band member. In other words Bono writes about 70% of it, Edge and Adam about 14% each and Larry scribbles a few lines. 30